Keeping your teeth healthy, safe and intact
Teeth grinding – or if you prefer the medical term, bruxism – affects many adults and children. Sore jaws, teeth-grinding headaches, muscle aches, neck and muscle aches or even chronic teeth-grinding, while you sleep, are symptoms and can cause serious problems to your teeth.
The causes of teeth grinding range from stress and anxiety to smoking, depression and sleep disorders.
Because keeping your teeth healthy and intact is our top priority, Able Family Dental offers our patients various dental appliances – such as mouth guards and night guards – to keep your teeth safe.
What is a night guard?
Night guards for teeth-grinding – also called occlusal splints – are removable dental appliances that are carefully molded to fit the upper or lower arches of teeth. They are typically made of a heat-cured acrylic resin, and are usually used on either the upper or the lower teeth, termed maxillary splints or mandibular splints. Covering your teeth with an occlusal splint will simultaneously diminish pain in your jaw and protect your teeth from dental injuries.
There are several reasons for our doctors to present an occlusal splint as your treatment option:
• To protect your teeth.
• To ease muscle tension and stabilize the jaw.
• To help reduce teeth wear caused by grinding.
Sports mouth guards
Do you or your children play sports? If so, sports guards may benefit your family. Sports guards can be used by anyone who plays contact sports; however, even those participating in other recreational activities and non-contact sports pose the risk of injury to the mouth. Everyone can benefit from wearing a protective mouth guard when engaging in these activities. With a sports mouth guard being custom-fit, you will be doing your best to protect your teeth from dental injury and reduce the risk of concussion. Our custom sports guards will fit comfortably in your mouth so you can breathe, swallow, and talk with ease.
Able Family Dental offers mouth guards in a wide variety of colours and patterns so that you can choose one to suit your personality.
What steps are involved in preparing for a mouth guard?
Custom-fitted mouth guards are individually designed and made at our clinic. You will be scheduled for a 30-minute appointment at which time a custom impression of your mouth will be taken. Our doctors will fabricate your guard from this impression, and your mouth guard will be ready 1-2 days later. At this time, you will try it on to ensure it is comfortable, and our doctors will make any fit adjustments necessary during your appointment.
If you think you could benefit from a mouth guard for sleeping, sports or any other activity, stop by Able Family Dental or give us a call to book an appointment – 403-327-7202.