Has anyone ever told you that they can hear you grind your teeth at night? Do you ever wake up with sore jaw muscles or an awareness of your teeth? If so you may need a night guard (sometimes called a mouth guard). Night guards protect your teeth from the irreversible damage caused by nighttime grinding. Sometimes they even stop your grinding all together!
A small percentage of the population are true grinders, which means that they will grind every night no matter what changes are made to their joint position and bite. If you are one of these people, protection from the extremely harmful effects of grinding is essential to avoid broken and severely worn teeth. For others we may choose to diagnose and treat the cause of your grinding if we suspect that you are not actually a true grinder and there is an underlying cause.
We can also fabricate you a custom made sports mouthguard. If you play any sport that involves contact with other players your teeth and jaw joint are at risk of damage. A sports guard will protect your teeth and jaw joints from damage if you have an accident.
Why a Custom Made Mouthguard, Can’t I Buy One From Wal-Mart?
Most low cost generic mouth guards are both uncomfortable and wear out quickly. Some can even make your grinding worse!
A professionally made mouthguard will be custom fitted to your teeth. It is both strong and has minimal bulk, which makes it easier to wear and longer lasting. The bite against your opposing teeth is also very carefully designed to minimize the forces that initiate the grinding process while you sleep. Another advantage of a custom made mouthguard is that it can be made for the upper or lower teeth.
Ask Dr. Wiens, Dr. Bose-Roberts, or Dr. Reimer whether a mouthguard is right for you.