Nightguards

If you grind your teeth while you sleep, you might have bruxism. This is a condition that a dentist can help by offering special nightguards to protect your teeth. Wearing these mouth guards during sleep becomes part of an oral care routine designed to keep your teeth and gums healthy.

At Reed Family Dental, we offer nightguards as part of our preventive dentistry services. These guards help to prevent damage that can result from the teeth gnashing against one another. We provide custom guards that offer the perfect fit.

How Do I Know If I Have Bruxism?

Bruxism is the official medical condition for grinding of the teeth during sleep. Someone with this condition may also clench their jaws. Since you’re asleep while the actions are taking place, you may not realize you have this condition.

There are several clues that can help with a diagnosis. If someone else sleeps in the same room as you, they may notice the sounds and movements associated with tooth clenching and grinding. You may also experience symptoms like sensitivity to hot or cold, mouth pain or pain in the head and ears.

During an exam, our dentist, Dr. Allison Reed, is likely to notice physical signs of bruxism. For example, you could have cracked, ground down or broken teeth from the pressure of grinding. 

Communicate any symptoms you are experiencing or observations from someone else to give Dr. Reed the full picture. This information will help her make the best diagnosis and provide the right treatment.

How Can a Dentist Help With Bruxism?

Bruxism is difficult to stop because it involves involuntary movements during sleep. Some people benefit from techniques that help them calm their tension. Nonetheless, the main way this condition is treated is by using a nightguard while sleeping. 

This protective device helps manage the problem and prevent damage to the teeth, jaw pain and other consequences of the grinding action. It can even help prevent orthodontic work, which may be needed if the bruxism shifts your bite.

A dentist enters the picture by providing custom-fitted nightguards. These specialty guards are more comfortable and stay in place better than one-size-fits-all retail guards. When you wear the guard, it creates a barrier between the top and bottom teeth, reducing pressure from clenching and protecting the teeth from grinding against each other.

At our office, we use an iTero scanner to create digital impressions of your mouth. This modern form of dentistry avoids the sticky, uncomfortable impression method of the past. Also, these digital impressions give a highly accurate picture of your teeth, gums and bite to create a nightguard that’s fitted to your mouth’s exact specifications. A custom-fitted mouth guard offers the most comfort and effectiveness.

Make a Consultation Visit

During an exam, Dr. Reed can check for signs of bruxism and recommend a nightguard if needed. Then, our team starts the process of getting you a custom nightguard to protect your teeth and gums. Contact our office to make an appointment. You can reach our friendly receptionist at 740-622-5695.