Protect Your Smile

 What is a dental night guard?
This is an appliance used to treat a condition known as bruxism or teeth grinding. Clenching and grinding can cause temperature sensitivity and pain as the wear can go down to the nerve, cracks in the teeth, receding gums and eventually lost teeth. A night guard is worn over either the top or bottom teeth to provide a cushion to prevent the attrition of grinding. This condition more commonly occurs at night and can cause a considerable amount of jaw pain and discomfort. Headaches can also be a result of teeth grinding.
A dental night guard can be made of acrylic or plastic. An acrylic dental night guard is less flexible than a plastic one which means that it will stay in place more effectively and last longer.
For a custom fitted night guard, a dental assistant will take impressions of the teeth, which are then poured into stone models.  The night guard is made off these stone models to ensure a custom fit. Children who need to wear a dental night guard or sport guard will need to have one made each year as they grow. It is also important to have all your restorative work completed before taking impressions for a night guard, as getting a new crown can alter the fit of your existing night guard.
Making the decision to purchase a custom made dental night guard will save you money in the long run by preventing your teeth from chipping and breaking! Remember the old saying “prevention is better than cure”.
The benefits of wearing a dental night guard include: minimizing bruxism, improve breathing, easing aches in neck and shoulders, reducing headaches, lessening jaw stress, protecting teeth from damage caused by grinding, reducing the chance of teeth chipping or loosening, and may even reduce snoring.
By reducing the wear and tear by 30% your teeth will be in kept in better condition for years to come. If you have been interested in having a custom night guard made, please call our office for a consultation.
For more information, please call 661-255-2545.  The office of Kimberly A. Rosen, DDS is located at 27420 Tourney Rd., Ste. 270 in Valencia.