Nightguards

Patients often don’t realize any potential dental hazards associated with sleeping. However, while asleep, many people are clenching and grinding their teeth without even noticing it.

Night grinding, or bruxism as dentists commonly refer to it, can lead to a variety of side effects and dental health issues like damaged teeth, jaw pain and in more severe cases, temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD).

At McKibben Dental, Dr. McKibben, Dr. Ehrbar, and the team can help you protect your teeth during sleep with a custom-made nightguard. This dental guard covers your teeth at night to prevent clenching, grinding and tension in the jaw.

What are Bruxism Symptoms?

If you are grinding your teeth at night, you may notice symptoms during the day such as jaw pain, a dull headache, broken teeth or worn and cracked teeth. While reasons for clenching and grinding are varied, usual causes are tension and stress in a patient’s life. 

If left untreated, bruxism can cause long-term oral health problems like a misaligned bite, damaged teeth or complications from temporomandibular joint dysfunction. This is why it is imperative to invest in a custom-made, proper-fitting nightguard.

How Does a Nightguard Treat Bruxism?

Trying to reduce stress is a good start to stopping bruxism, but the best solution for long-term relief and prevention is getting a special mouth guard for sleeping.

Nightguards work by providing a protective layer between your teeth as you sleep. The soft, plastic material from which your mouth guard is made is both flexible and highly durable, so it can sustain any grinding. Since it is made from plastic, this softens grinding so your teeth won’t clench against each other.

Aside from saving your teeth and jaw from future pain and damage, nightguards can improve your sleep quality and even lead to headache and migraine prevention.

What are the Benefits of a Custom-Fit Nightguard?

Like an athletic mouthguard, there are quick and simple nightguard solutions that you can purchase over-the-counter. Most major pharmacies offer boil-and-bite nightguards that you can take home and use that same night.

However, these general boil-and-bite nightguards are only generally fitted for an adult’s mouth. Even after submerging the device in hot water and biting it to fit your mouth, it won’t be truly fit to your unique teeth. While it is a good temporary solution, your teeth may slide around without the proper fit.

This is why, at McKibben Dental, we recommend getting a custom-made nightguard to fit every tooth and area of your jaw. During your next dental exam, Dr. McKibben, Dr. Ehrbar, and the team can take a look at your teeth and determine any particular areas impacted by bruxism. 

From here, we will create a plan to get you fitted for a nightguard and treat your night grinding and clenching symptoms.

Looking for a Nightguard in Reynoldsburg and the Surrounding Columbus area?

At McKibben Dental, our team specializes in preventative dentistry solutions for both children and adults. Call our office at 614-575-9530 to discuss nightguards and your options for diagnosis and treatment of bruxism.