NIGHTGUARDS

Nightguards are used to protect your teeth when sleeping. Sometimes people experience jaw pain, headaches, or tooth pain which may be caused by grinding or clenching their teeth at night. This is called bruxism and can affect up to 33% of the U.S. population. If left untreated, bruxism can cause teeth to wear down or crack which may result in damage to fillings and crowns or even the loss of a tooth.

 

Although there are over-the-counter nightguards at your local drug store, these are not recommended for long term use. They tend to be overly large and uncomfortable causing a person to change their bite. Custom nightguards are made by taking digital impressions of your teeth. The impressions are then sent to a special lab who engineers the custom nightguard tailored to your bite. Once the nightguard is complete, your dentist will make sure it fits perfectly during your next appointment. Talk to your dentist about the different options and which is the right choice for you.