NIGHT GUARDS
Custom designed mouthguards and nightguards are made of flexible plastic and molded to fit the shape of your teeth. Mouthguards are recommended to protect the jaw and teeth during physical activity and sports such as boxing, football, basketball, or other activities where your mouth may get hit
In addition, these guards protect the soft tissues of your tongue, lips and cheek lining. Nightguards are also recommended for patients who clench or grind their teeth at night as a way to protect their teeth and bite.
If you have decided a guard is right for you, the dentist will take an impression of your teeth which will then be sent to a lab to make a custom fit guard for you. In most cases you can choose from a variety of colors and styles for your guard. On average, guards last between 3 and 10 years.
Types of Night Guards
- Dental mouth guards may be pre-formed with only minor trimming required. Dental mouth guards may also be custom made, in which an impression of the user’s teeth is used to create a mouth protector.
- Dental guards are cost-effective prophylactic measures to prevent serious damage in cases of teeth grinding and contact sports. The best fitting device is one that has been fitted by a dentist.
- Soft Night Guard- This is the most commonly used type of night guard for Bruxism and used mostly for mild or occasional cases, not for severe teeth grinders.
- Dual Laminate Night Guards- This type of night guard for Bruxism is for moderately severe teeth grinders. They are soft on the inside and hard on the outside.
- Hard Night Guards- Hard night guards for Bruxism are made from acrylic and are extremely rigid but durable. They can be used for very severe cases of grinding, as well as TMJ.