Learn More About Nightguards:
When suffering from the effects of bruxism or TMJ disorder, it can be hard to handle the stress that comes with the jaw and tooth pain that accompanies it. South Hill Comprehensive Dentistry is here to help. While the exact causes of bruxism aren’t fully understood, we’re here to provide you with solutions that can help relieve pain and give you a better night’s sleep. Nightguards are an effective way of mitigating the effects of bruxism and TMJ disorder, protecting your teeth from losing enamel and the jaw joint from developing an abnormal bite.
How Nightguards Can Help Relieve Your Jaw Pain:
A dental guard acts as a barrier to protect your teeth. As a type of mouth guard, night guards work to give you comfort at night during moments of bruxism and TMJ pain. Many of these mouthguards are approved by the ADA and encouraged as a form of pain management because of their ability to reduce the risk of dental injuries. When made to fit your mouth properly, night guards can be an effective way to reverse a wide range of dental problems and thus have immense value in our practice as a way to treat our patients.
So, how does the night guard work? Night guards work to lighten the tension produced by your jaw muscles and provide those muscles with a cushion. These devices also work to provide space between the teeth by realigning the jaw, preventing the possibility of tooth grinding during sleep. Nightguards have also been used as a snoring remedy for those who have mild forms of sleep apnea. By putting a soft cushioned barrier between your teeth, it provides a cushion between the teeth and jaw, removing the effects of snoring and help you sleep better.
The Benefits of Custom-Fitted Night Guards:
Most nightguards can be purchased over the counter as a boil-and-bite variety. These forms of night guards are easily replaceable and have a comfortable fit but tend not to last as long and aren’t a long-term solution to bruxism. Nightguards fabricated by our dentists can be custom-fitted to your jawbone and remove any discomfort felt while wearing them, and provide many benefits to those who have bruxism or TMJ disorder, including:
- Reduce Tissue Damage: Wearing night guards that don’t fit can damage your gum tissues over time, which can lead to teeth movement that eventually results in tooth loss.
- Lessens Choking Hazards: Boil-in-bite varieties also present a higher risk of becoming a choking hazard, especially if they don’t fit correctly.
- Reduces Headaches and Jaw pain: By having a custom-fitted device, any symptoms of headaches and jaw pain can be reduced safely and effectively.
- Insurance Coverage: If diagnosed with TMJ disorder or bruxism, most insurance companies will cover the majority of the costs associated with custom-fitted guards. However, it’s essential that you should check with your insurance company to make sure your night guards are covered.
At South Hill Comprehensive Dentistry, we work to bring compassionate care to your appointment, where you’ll receive custom-fitted mouth guards and dental cleanings with you in mind. Please arrange a dental appointment with us today to learn more!
