Night Guards
Coronado, CA
Tooth grinding can trigger jaw pain and restless slumber. A night guard can help if you struggle to stop grinding or clenching your teeth. Customized night guards adapt to your dental needs and mouth shape. Night guards gently cushion your jaws during sleep and prevent dental damage.
Dental night guards are available at Coronado Dentistry & Pediatrics in Coronado Dentistry & Pediatrics and the surrounding area. Each custom-fitted mouth protector is designed to ease bruxism symptoms, a condition that results from tooth grinding. Over time, bruxism can lead to chipped teeth and jaw misalignment. Night guards help prevent these troublesome dental problems. Call us at (619) 354-5136 to schedule an appointment.
Mouth Guards vs. Night Guards
Many patients wonder about the difference between mouth guards and night guards. These devices indeed serve a similar purpose. Mouthguards protect teeth during physical activities like football or boxing. Dentists often recommend mouthguards to athletes and active adults.
Night guards protect against bruxism, or grinding and clenching the teeth during sleep. Nighttime teeth grinding can cause severe dental damage. Over time, grinding one's teeth can destroy the enamel and trigger gum erosion. Without treatment, the damage can progress, and some patients may need dental surgery. Night guards can help protect bruxism patients from permanent dental damage.
Questions Answered on This Page
It is vital to wear a night guard consistently to protect against tooth damage. Wearing a night guard on an irregular schedule offers minimal protection. Most patients can expect to wear their devices every night.
Night Guards and Braces
Even patients with braces can still benefit from a night guard. Modern night guards fit over braces and other dental appliances. Our team creates a custom-fitted night guard that works alongside any other dental treatments.
“Night guards can help protect bruxism patients from permanent dental damage.”
Night Guards as a Dental Treatment
Bruxism
Bruxism is a common condition that affects up to 10% of Americans. People with bruxism unconsciously grind their teeth or clench their jaw. Often, this tooth-grinding occurs during the night. As a result, many people with bruxism are unaware that they have the condition.
Over time, bruxism can lead to serious dental problems. Night guards help protect the teeth by easing pressure in the jaw. These devices also guard the teeth against chips and uneven wear patterns that often result from jaw clenching.
TMJ
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) connects the jaw to the skull. Nighttime grinding or clenching often lead to TMJ disorders, including stubborn headaches and neck pain. Night guards are a simple method for preventing or treating TMJ problems.
Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea develops when patients stop breathing for brief periods during the night. Airflow may become blocked due to the placement of the jaw and tongue. Night guards can align the jaw, relieving some sleep apnea symptoms and preventing life-threatening health complications.
“Night guards help protect your teeth by easing pressure in the jaw.”
Benefits of a Night Guard
Clenching and grinding can destroy the tooth enamel. Patients may be at a higher risk for cavities, tooth sensitivity, or gum erosion during their lifetime. People with bruxism can also develop unsightly chipped teeth or muscle tension.
These symptoms can lead to cosmetic dental issues and have a significant impact on the quality of life. Many people who grind their teeth report headaches, neck pain, and restless sleep. Night guards may allow affected individuals to sleep more soundly.
“Night guards may allow affected individuals to sleep more soundly.”
Choosing a Night Guard
Night guards are available over-the-counter. While these options can be cost-effective, they may not deliver results. Premade night guards don't always fit properly, and they can be uncomfortable. Over-the-counter night guards are also less durable.
Custom-fitted night guards are built to last, and they adapt to the patient's unique needs. Custom night guards can even adapt to braces or other dental appliances. These devices work alongside existing dental or orthodontic treatments.
Modern night guards are made from translucent acrylic, and they are designed to be discreet. There is no need to be self-conscious about a clunky or unattractive appliance. Patients can choose the material for their devices. Our team creates each custom night guard to each patient's specifications.
“Custom-fitted night guards are built to last, and they adapt to the patient’s unique needs.”
Caring for Your Night Guard
Taking care of one's teeth allows the night guard to provide optimal protection. Patients should make sure to brush and floss before inserting the device. They should also take care to clean it before and after each use.
Begin by rinsing the night guard with clean water. Then brush the device using your toothbrush and toothpaste. Once the night guard is in place, patients should not consume anything except plain water. They should also try not to expose the night guard to heat, either. Hot water or direct sunlight can warp the material.
Contact our team if the device gets lost or becomes damaged. Using a damaged or poorly fitted device can risk your oral health. We can arrange for a replacement night guard.
“Patients should make sure to brush and floss before inserting the device.”
Questions Answered on This Page
Frequently Asked Questions
New patients and emergency appointments welcome
Dental Terminology
Bruxing Appliance
A bruxing appliance is a night guard that specializes in preventing the teeth from grinding against each other during sleep and helping the patient not damage the teeth further by clenching the jaw.
Bruxism
Bruxism is a condition that involves conscious and unconscious teeth grinding, or jaw clenching during the day and night.
Dental Checkup
A dental checkup is an appointment that involves cleaning the teeth, identifying any signs of infection and removing said signs of infection at least once every six months in the office.
Dental Sealants
Dental sealants contain a resinous material that we apply to the chewing surfaces of the posterior teeth to prevent dental caries.
Dental Filling
A dental filling involves restoring the structure of the tooth by using metal, alloy, porcelain or plastic to fill the tooth.
Dental Prophylaxis
A dental prophylaxis is a professional and detailed cleaning that involves the removal of plaque, calculus and stains from the teeth.
Dental Sealants
Dental sealants contain a resinous material that we apply to the chewing surfaces of the posterior teeth to prevent dental caries.
Dentist
A dentist, also known as a dental surgeon, is a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases and conditions of the oral cavity.
Jaw/Facial Muscle Myalgia
Jaw/Facial muscle myalgia is a condition that causes pain in the muscles of the patient’s jaw, face and neck due to a decrease in the elastic property of the facial muscles.
Occlusal Guards
An occlusal guard is a removable device that protects the teeth from trauma, grinding the teeth while asleep and other issues.
Preventive Dentistry
Preventive dentistry is the dentistry that focuses on maintaining oral health in order to prevent the spread of plaque, the formation of tartar and infections in the mouth.
Tooth Enamel
Tooth enamel is the protective visible outer surface of a tooth that contains the dentin and dental pulp.