Night Guards

Do you wake up with excruciating headaches or jaw pain when you were feeling fine the night before? Do you find yourself clenching your teeth at night? Have some of your teeth started looking flattened? If you answered "yes," to these questions, the reason for your pain could be bruxism, also known as teeth grinding. Bruxism is not a disease and is more a habitual motion that occurs whenever you’re feeling stressed or anxious. To protect your teeth at night, it may be recommended that you wear a custom night guard to protect your teeth as you sleep, so you don’t subconsciously grind your teeth.

Once the patient decides to get a night guard, they will schedule an appointment at their dentist to have impressions of the upper and lower teeth made. The impressions will be sent to a dental laboratory where a custom-fit night guard will be crafted for the patient. Once the night guard is returned to the dentist, the patient will come in to have their night guard fitted by their dentist.

The night guard can last for several years with proper home care. The patient should clean the night guard before and after each use. Depending on the type of material used when making the night guard, the dentist will give the patient more specific care instructions. Patients should bring their night guard to all future dental appointments so the dentist can check for general wear and decide when it needs to be replaced.

Compared to over-the-counter night guards, custom night guards are more expensive, but some or all of the cost may be covered by the patient’s dental insurance if it is medically necessary. A night guard custom fit by a dentist can cost more than one purchased over-the-counter, but they are more comfortable and last longer than store-bought night guards.

While some night guards can be bought at your local drugstore, it’s more advantageous to have a custom night guard made for you. Drugstore night guards do not last very long, doesn’t cover all of your teeth, and can often be ill-fitting. A custom night guard could be just the thing that keeps your smile from needing expensive dental work down the road. You can feel rest assured that the night guard fits correctly, comfortably, and protects your teeth fully. Store-bought night guards don’t offer this type of reassurance.

If you are one of the 30-40 million Americans, who wake up with headaches or mouth pain, you should ask your dentist about a custom night guard that can protect your teeth from grinding and clenching. Not only will you get a better night’s sleep, but you’ll also protect your teeth from serious damage.