Many patients come to our practice complaining that they clench or grind their teeth. This is what we call bruxism. We often notice the results of grinding: chipping and wearing on the edges of the front teeth and also on the biting surfaces of the back teeth.
At Crossroads Dental Arts, we can help you protect your teeth from grinding by fabricating a nightguard that is hard on the outside, but soft on the inside. This protects your teeth while you sleep and can even be worn during more stressful times of the day.
If left untreated, bruxing, or grinding of the teeth, can wear down the teeth causing:
• An increase in cavities
• Eroding of the teeth
• Jaw and muscle pain
• Chipping or breaking of teeth
• Headaches, backaches, earaches, and neck pain
Be warned: Over the counter night guards you can mold yourself can cause damage to your gums and alter your bite. Creating a custom-fit is essential to protect your teeth from grinding. Our office uses the Itero intraoral scanner to accurately capture all the surfaces of the teeth.
Adjusting to your night guard may take several weeks. If you are experiencing problems, try wearing it for a few hours during the day and build up to wearing it all night.
If you believe you are grinding your teeth, do not hesitate to call Crossroads Dental Arts. We can examine your teeth for signs of bruxism. Many insurance companies have dental benefits for night guards. One of our patient care coordinators can assist you and give an estimate for a custom-fitted night guard for teeth.