Dental Nightguards in San Francisco, CA
Nightguards
If you’re one of the many people who suffer from nighttime teeth grinding or bruxism, a nightguard may be a good solution for you. Nightguards are custom-made devices that fit over your teeth and help protect them from the damage caused by grinding.
Azure Dental offers a variety of nightguards to meet your needs, including standard and custom-fit guards.
If you’re interested in learning more about nightguards, or if you would like to schedule a consultation to discuss whether a nightguard is right for you, please contact us today!
What are nightguards or dental guards?
A night guard is a custom-made device that fits over your teeth and helps protect them from the damage caused by grinding. Nightguards are often recommended for people who suffer from nighttime teeth grinding or bruxism.
Bruxism is a condition that causes people to grind or clench their teeth severely. It can occur during the day or night, but it is most commonly associated with nighttime grinding. Nighttime grinding can cause a lot of damage to your teeth, including wear and tear, chips, and cracks because you cannot stop yourself from doing it.
A mouthguard can help protect your teeth from this damage by creating a barrier between your teeth and jaw.
How do you know if you need a nightguard?
If you think you may be grinding your teeth at night, there are a few things you can look for. Nighttime grinding often leads to morning headaches or jaw pain. You may also notice that your teeth are wearing down more quickly than usual or that you have chips or cracks in your teeth.
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s a good idea to talk to your dentist about whether a mouth guard is right for you.
Types of Nightguards
There are four main types of nightguards:
- Standard nightguards are less expensive, but they are less comfortable and less effective than custom guards. In addition, standard night guards are not made to fit your mouth and are sold over-the-counter at a store or pharmacy.
- Custom-fit nightguards are made specifically for your mouth, so they fit better and work more effectively. They are more expensive than standard guards, but they are often worth the investment if you are experiencing severe teeth grinding. Unfortunately, a dentist and laboratory can only make these.
- Boil and bite guards are a type of custom-fit nightguard. They are made from a soft material called thermoplastic that can be molded and customized using boiling water. Then you bite down on the soft nightguard material so that it takes on the shape of your upper teeth or lower teeth.
- Bite splints (hard nightguard) is another type of custom-fit dental guard. They are made from hard acrylic material, and they fit over the entire arch of your teeth. A bite splint is typically used to treat TMJ.
What are they made of?
Nightguards are made from various materials, including soft plastics, hard plastics, and silicone. They can be custom-made to fit your mouth correctly, or you can buy a standard nightguard that is pre-formed.
Custom Nightguards for Teeth Grinding
A night guard is made by taking an impression of your teeth using a dental putty or dental impression tray. This impression is then sent to a professional dental lab, where a technician will create a custom-fitted nightguard to fit your specific bite.
Nightguards or mouth guards can also be made using dental CAD/CAM technology, which creates a digital model of your teeth generated by a computer, that is then used to mill the nightguard from a solid block of material.
Benefits of Using a Nightguard
While nightguards may not help with some issues like sleep apnea, there are many benefits of using a night guard while sleeping, including:
- Protection from tooth wear and broken teeth
- Reduction of jaw clenching and grinding noise
- Relief from jaw soreness and tension headaches
- Prevention of TMJ disorder (temporomandibular joint disorder) pain and dysfunction caused by heavy or severe grinding
- There is also some evidence suggesting that nightguards can help reduce tooth shift.
Contact Us Today!
If you’re interested in learning more about nightguards, or if you would like to schedule a consultation to discuss whether a nightguard is right for you, please contact Azure Dental today! We would be happy to help you find the right solution for you.