What is a Nightguard?
This is often a plastic device that fits over your teeth and is worn at night to protect them from the damage caused by grinding. There are many types and styles of nightguards. Some are hard, some are soft; they may be worn on the top or the bottom teeth. To make a nightguard, this can be done directly in the mouth, using NTI style appliances. Alternztively, on the first appointment your dentist can take some impressions. From these impressions, models are made of your teeth. It’s on these models that the custom nightguard is made. On your second appointment you will try on the nightguard, and your dentist will carefully adjust it to fit. Generally, a hard acrylic nightguard is most effective in protecting your teeth and helping to stop the destructive habit. Some bruxists say that a soft splint encourages them to chew more at night. Not good ! However, sometimes as a quick, emergency nightguard, a soft one will usually suffice until the jaw muscles relax enough to open fully for a mo
A nightguard, or night guard, is an appliance much like a retainer that people put in their mouths to protect their teeth while they are sleeping. This device is commonly used by people who suffer from bruxism, or excessive nighttime tooth grinding or clenching. This grinding and clenching puts pressure on the jaw, which can cause temporomandibular joint (TMJ) problems, severe headaches, ear pain, and neck pain as well as causing excessive wear to the teeth. Thin, transparent, and horseshoe-shaped, dental nightguards are created from hard but moldable plastics. The nightguard fits over either the upper or the lower teeth, creating a cushion between them and absorbing the impact of the grinding or clenching. Nightguards can help reduce enamel damage, jaw joint inflammation, and irritation to the gums. Overall, most nightguard wearers report they have less pain and sleep better. In order to be truly effective, nightguards need to be custom-made for each individual. It typically takes two
Nightguard Purpose How many of us have been affected by heavy bruxing whether our own or that of someone in our household? Bruxing is a dental disorder where the patient grinds their teeth at night and wears them down (along with the rest of the household)! Often the grinding is so loud that it is heard in adjoining rooms. Fortunately a solution is now available in the form of a night guard. Need a Nightguard? There are many causes of the grinding. The two most important are a problem with the bite and stress. However, everyone has some stress. So, from a treatment standpoint, the best approach is to do something about the bite. If a minor correction can be made, then this is the first solution. But, if the bruxing is severe, and the patient has numerous symptoms such as sore muscles, popping of the joints, frequent headaches, and wearing down of the teeth then a night guard is indicated. What it does is separate the teeth at night so the patient cannot grind them together. This protec
It is a thin plastic appliance which covers the upper six front teeth. NightGuard is comfortable to wear and you generally wear it only at night when you are sleeping. Why do I need a NightGuard? An extremely large number of people grind and gnash their teeth while sleeping. Many people are unaware that they are doing this. It is sometimes thought that grinding will occur during periods of stress. We believe now that while stress may enhance your periods of grinding, it is not the only cause. While you are asleep, your teeth will come together about two to four hours during seven to eight hours of sleep. When there are irregularities in the chewing surfaces of your teeth, an automatic reflex occurs (by grinding) to eliminate a spot where it is too high. Your neuro-muscular system steps into high gear and extends thousands of pounds of pressure through the muscles of the mouth and jaw to grind away your teeth in a never ending battle which does nothing but cause aches and pains. How wil
