Should I wear a night guard?

Night guards are also known as occlusal splints, bite splints or night mouthguards. They are commonly recommended for for those who clench or grind their teeth. There are also other night guards which help to re-position the lower jaw for those who suffer from snoring or sleep apnea. Night guards are not the same as sports mouthguards, as they look completely different as they are for a different purpose. The two items cannot be interchanged.

The symptoms of grinding or clenching your teeth include, but are not limited to (Source: Australian Dental Association):

1. Fractured, chipped or loose teeth
2. A dull headache, sore jaws and/or ear pain
3. Aching teeth, and stiffness in the face and temples, particularly in the morning after waking up
4. Jaw joints become sore while eating
5. Generalised sensitive teeth
6. Intense jaw clenching
7. Multiple cracked or broken fillings
8. Tooth mobility
9. Temporomandibular disorders (TMD)

The likelihood of clenching or grinding your teeth can be contributed to by the following risk factors (Source: Australian Dental Association):

1. Stress and anxiety
2. Alcohol
3. Smoking
4. Caffeine
5. Snoring
6. Obstructive sleep apnoea
7. Drugs including antidepressants (SSRIs, SNRIs), antipsychotics, amphetamines (methamphetamine, MDMA), cocaine

So, how do you know if you need to wear a night guard?

1. You or your dentist has noticed your teeth are becoming worn down and short
2. Your teeth frequently become damaged from cracks or chips due to the excessive forces from grinding or clenching your teeth
3. You have been diagnosed with sleep apnea and your medical professional has recommended a mandibular advancement splint
4. You wish to prevent further damage (your teeth wearing down or becoming cracked) to your teeth
5. You are suffering from jaw pain, muscle pain or headaches

What is the process for getting a night guard made?

At our Claremont dental clinic, we can use the latest digital dental technology to scan your mouth to create a 3D image of your teeth. We can then use this scan to custom-make the night guard for you. It must be custom-made to fit your mouth for it to be effective. We can make your custom night guard for you ready either the next day or the day after. We will then schedule an appointment for you to fit your night guard and explain how to care for it so you can gain the most benefit from its’ wear. We recommend you also bring your night guard to your routine dental checkups so it can be assessed and checked that it is still in good condition and fitting properly.

Do you want to schedule a visit to discuss a night guard? Call our friendly Claremont dental team on 6143 5655 or book a consultation with our Claremont dentists online via our convenient online booking portal here.

Author: Lydia