Night Guards
Many people are afflicted with teeth grinding—also known as bruxism. While some individuals may do this throughout the day, it is a larger problem at night during sleep. Our dentists in Shelby Township, MI, know that teeth grinding can damage enamel, cause sensitive teeth, trigger jaw pain, or irritate your gums. The noise from teeth grinding can also disturb your spouse’s sleep.
Fortunately, there are solutions that can lessen the damages of teeth grinding, such as bite splints or night guards. These restorative devices support, protect, and immobilize oral structures that have been loosened, replanted, fractured, or traumatized.
We offer night guards or bite splint therapy for:
- Treatment of temporal mandibular joint (TMJ) disorders
- Patients dealing with issues from night-time teeth grinding
- Mouth or jaw problems resulting from bite misalignment
If you grind your teeth you should consider a custom night guard. Similar to a mouth guard worn by athletes, this device provides a barrier between your top and bottom teeth while you sleep. All night guards are custom fitted for comfort and to allow for proper breathing. During your appointment, we’ll take impressions of your teeth and have the night guard created by a dental lab. Night guards are very durable and can be used for up to 10 years.
There are also some things that you can do to try to stop teeth grinding. You can train your jaw to be free and easy rather than clenched. Refrain from chewing gum or on other objects like pens. You should also avoid alcoholic and caffeinated drinks, as these can increase the likelihood you will grind your teeth. Set up an appointment with us if you suspect you might be grinding your teeth at night.
Our dentists offer several different types of bite splint therapy for specific conditions. Through proper evaluation and fitting, we can help alleviate misalignment of your bite and subsequently correct these issues.
Learn More About Night Guards
Our dentists in Shelby Township, MI, will examine your teeth and gums for . To schedule an appointment and learn if you’re a candidate for a custom night guard, call Frank P. Ruffino DDS at (586) 799-4240.
