Do you sometimes wake up with a tired and sore jaw, one that might even lock up making it difficult to open your mouth? Have you woken up with a dull headache starting in your temples with tooth pain or sensitivity? If this sounds familiar to you, you could be experiencing “Bruxism”. Bruxism is a term used to describe teeth clenching or teeth grinding and you may need a dental mouth guard.
A night dental mouth guard is a mouth guard for your teeth using custom material to create a barrier between your upper and lower teeth to prevent the effects of teeth grinding and clenching. Some signs and symptoms that you be someone who has bruxism are:
- Unexpected neck and jaw pain
- The inside of your check may be damaged from chewing on it
- Disrupted sleep
- Worn down teeth, exposing the dentin (yellow colored portion of tooth located beneath the enamel)
- Flattened teeth that may also be chipped
- A pain originating in the ear that is actually not a headache
- A jaw that has trouble opening and closing properly, it may even lock
- Grinding of teeth that is loud enough to be heard at by others
In the case that your have a chipped a tooth from grinding or clenching, the Royal Palm Beach dentist may want to repair the tooth/teeth before taking an impression and sending it to the lab. The process of repairing a cracked tooth is a straightforward procedure with minimal chair time required. If you would like more information on a cracked tooth repair you can click here at any time to be redirected.
Understandably, a trip to the Royal Palm Beach dentist office can seem intimidating for some so you may consider purchasing a dental mouth guard kit from a local convenience store or online. Even though that may seem more convenient, let me educate you on the reasons why this has long term consequences.
In order for a custom night dental guard to be made well, it should be comfortable when placed inside your mouth and not disruptive to your breathing. A good night mouth guard should be fitted to your natural teeth without causing extra bulkiness. When purchasing an at home kit, the process is easy enough with boiling water, submerging the guard and fitting it to your upper (maxillary) teeth. The main issue with this process is that many brands make the materials too thick, obstructing the airway when laying down and making it very uncomfortable to get a good mouth rest. In addition to these nuisances, the at home brands can create problems when the fit is not properly adjusted in a dental office. If your dental mouth guard is not adjusted, your natural teeth can shift and change due to improper fit and wearing it throughout the night continuously.
When receiving a professional night mouth guard at Madison Green Family Dental, you’ll not only receive a quality guard but custom adjustments as well with the doctor checking your natural “bite”. A bite in dental terms means how your upper and lower teeth occlude, or the contact between the teeth when you bite down. This prevents your teeth and jaw from having long term effects and also allows you to get some sleep.
The approximate cost for a mouth guard starts around $495 without insurance. Madison Green Family Dental has many payment options offered to our patients if this topic would be of interest to you. Our knowledgeable front desk staff is here to help answer any questions or concerns you may have, so give us a call or stop the office, we would love to see you!