MOUTH GUARDS
When you wake up in the morning, do you experience pain in your jaw joint? Do you have difficulty opening or closing your mouth? Do you have sensitivity in your teeth or do they look shorter? Do you get routine headaches? These could be clear signs of grinding or bruxing. If uncontrolled, you can damage your jaw joint, your teeth or any dental work you have received from your dentist.
Reasons For Grinding
The exact reason for grinding is still unknown but there are some factors that are associated with this problem such as:
- Stress and anxiety
- Drug abuse
- Excess use of Caffeine
- Smoking
- Excess use of alcohol
- Some prescription medication
- Mal-Occlusion or miss-bite
There is currently no cure for grinding but it can be controlled. If you grind your teeth during the day or at night, your dentist will recommend a night guard to protect your teeth from these grinding forces. A night guard is a plastic cover that fits over your teeth to deflect the hard forces of chewing. Night guards will also increase the longevity of your dental work.
Night Guard Treatment
During the first visit, your dentist will take an impression of your teeth. This impression is then sent to a dental laboratory where a custom-fit night guard is made.
On your second visit, your dentist will show you how to place it into your mouth and will adjust it to your bite. There are different kinds of night guards from soft materials to harder plastic materials. Your dentist will recommend you the material best suited for you.
Sports Guards – custom made
If you participate in any kind of full-contact sport, the Canadian Dental Association recommends that you wear a mouthguard. Sport guards help reduce trauma by absorbing the shock received by aggressive hits and movements. They help protect your teeth and gums from injury… Custom guards provide the optimum fit and protection for both teeth and jaw joints .Choosing the right mouthguard is essential. There are three basic types of mouthguards: the pre-made mouthguard, the “boil-and-bite” fitted mouthguard, and a custom-made mouthguard from your dentist. When you chose a mouthguard, be sure to pick one that is tear-resistant, comfortable, well fitted for your mouth, easy to keep clean, and does not prevent you from breathing properly. Your dentist can show you how to wear a mouthguard properly and how to choose the right one to protect your smile.
Snoring and Sleep Apnea Treatment
If you’ve ever been told by a loved one that you snore, you may be a candidate for a variety of treatments. If you stop breathing periodically throughout the night or suffer from high blood pressure or morning headaches, you may have a treatable sleep disorder.
Sleep apnea affects many people and occurs when your breathing starts and stops throughout the night. If left untreated, it can lead to greater issues such as hypertension, stroke or heart failure.
A sleep clinic can help you diagnose a sleep disorder. In some cases, a dental appliance is appropriate to prevent snoring or apnea. We provide several proven designs that can help in these situations.