Nightguards
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Office Timings
Monday – Tuesday: 08 AM – 05 PM
Wednesday: By Appointment
Thursday – Friday: 08 AM – 05 PM
Saturday – Sunday: Closed
What are Night Guards?
A mouth guard is a type of retainer that is designed to protect the teeth, gums, and potentially other parts of the mouth from potential injury or harm. Many people suffer from bruxism, or tooth grinding, without even knowing it. Teeth grinding is a condition in which a person clenches, shifts, and gnashes his or her teeth when sleeping. When this occurs, it can lead to tooth damage, soreness in the mouth, headaches, gum recession, and even problems with the jaw joint.
Why would you need a Night Guards?
We may recommend a night guard to you if you grind your teeth while sleeping. The guard is there to protect your teeth from damage that could ultimately result in invasive treatment and even tooth loss. Some of the most common signs of bruxism include:
- You wake up with a sore, stiff jaw with difficulty in opening mouth
- Your teeth hurt, especially in the morning
- You find yourself waking up with clenched teeth throughout the night
- The biting surfaces of your teeth appear flat rather than pointed
- You have morning-specific headaches or migraines
- Your teeth are cracked, broken, or have fractured
I highly recommend family dental in Biddeford, me. I’ve always been very nervous about going to get dental work done. Here it’s been a pleasant and pain free experience.
Marsha Wihbey
What makes you a Good Candidate for Night Guards?
To determine if you are a good candidate for a custom night guard, our doctor will do an exam and a consultation. Most often, we can tell if you suffer from bruxism because of the shape of your teeth. People who grind their teeth tend to have flatter-looking teeth than people who do not grind their teeth. A custom night guard can protect your teeth and keep them from being damaged further. We do intraoral scanning with Itero to see if there are any changes on teeth with time. If you grind your teeth at night or have been told that you grind your teeth by the way that your teeth appear, a night guard is the right option for you.
What happens during a Night Guard Appointment?
After an examination and a consultation is done to check for the signs of bruxism, we will take digital impressions with an Itero Scanner so that the night guard is built to fit your mouth. It is important that you wear your new night guard every single night so that it is effective in putting a stop to the effects of tooth grinding. By wearing a night guard, you will find that your jaw feels better and you suffer fewer or no cracks, breaks, and tooth fractures.
If you think you may need a night guard or want to know more about this procedure, contact our office and our friendly staff members can help in assisting you.