stock-2Many patients suffer from Temporomandibular Disorder and require treatment to alleviate pain caused by temporomandibular issues. Because TMD is often caused by grinding or clenching, nightguards and mouthguards can be instrumental in relieving a patient’s symptoms and aiding in recovery.

Occlusal Splint or Nightguard

A nightguard is designed to prevent damage to teeth and is often used to treat patients with temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). Patients who grind or clench their teeth during the day or evening can be prescribed a nightguard to protect teeth and fillings from breakage.

At our practice, we create customized nightguards for each patient to ensure proper fit and optimal comfort. In most cases, we generally make a hybrid nightguard, which has a soft inner material and a hard outer material.

Procedure

  • During the first visit, an impression and bite registration is taken of the patient’s upper and lower teeth.
  • A mold is created from the impression and sent to a laboratory to have the appliance made.
  • A second visit to the office is necessary to adjust the nightguard for a comfortable fit and proper occlusion.

Sports Mouthguard

stock-19Mouthguards are also made to protect the teeth while doing sports activities. Sports guards can be bought at drugstores; however, if you desire a custom-fit mouthguard, we can provide that service.

For a custom sports/mouth guard to be made for you, we first take an impression of your teeth. Patients can buy one-size-fits-all mouthguards elsewhere, but they won’t provide the same benefits. Custom-made mouthguards are designed to “grip” each individual tooth and are much more supportive during impact than boilable mouthguards.

Sports mouthguards should be replaced about every 6 months for children because a child’s mouth is constantly growing and changing. For fully grown adults, replacement once a season is sufficient. We recommend that you bring your sports mouthguard with you for your regular check-ups, and we can check to see if it still fits properly.

Protect Your Dental Health with Guards from Harris Family Dentistry!

To find out more about nightguards and sports mouthguards, call us today.