A night guard, also known as a bruxism appliance is typically worn throughout the night and helps prevent teeth grinding caused by sleep apnea. Watch this video by dedicated Calgary dentist Dr. Arash Ravanbakhsh as he explains what a night guard is, and how it can help protect your teeth.
Oftentimes, we see patients that have never been to the dentist before. During our initial consultation, we take x-rays and other internal photos, and sometimes notice that the teeth are very flat. As the discussion continues, we go into the history, how the patient presents. A lot of times they end up complaining of a sore jaw in the morning; they might complain of tooth sensitivity, jaw pain; they may complain of teeth that are shifting and teeth that have become shorter. We can use all of these telltale signs in conjunction with a clinical history to identify if grinding is happening.
A lot of times patients know they require a night guard because their husband or wife is constantly complaining about it, so some people just walk in like, “Hey, I grind my teeth. What can I do about it?” A lot of times we recommend getting a night guard or a bruxism appliance.
A night guard is a thin layer of plastic, worn either on your top or bottom arch, that prevents the teeth from rubbing against each other, causing the teeth to rub against the plastic instead. We also make it ideal to your bite and we make it ideal to your specific circumstance. Sometimes people have jaw problems, sometimes people have sleep apnea, so those are things we can identify during a clinical exam and when we’re making decisions in relation to if a night guard is an appropriate treatment modality for you. If you think you may be grinding your teeth at night, contact our office to see if a custom night guard may be right for you.
Do you or a loved one have issues with grinding teeth, and have questions about whether a night guard can help? Contact Inglewood Family Dental to arrange your consultation. We offer flexible financing options and follow the new Alberta dental fee guide to help make treatments accessible to everyone. Contact us today, we look forward to putting a smile on your face!