Our dentists may advise that you wear a custom-made night guard (occlusal splint) if you grind your teeth or a custom-made mouth-guard if you frequently participate in heavy collision sports.
By getting your protective guards custom made by our dentists instead of an over-the-counter mouth-guard, which tends to have poor fitting, we can ensure it perfectly fits the shape of your mouth and teeth, is more comfortable and provides greater protection for your teeth.
Occlusal splints for bruxism
Teeth grinding or bruxism is a common dental problem that can happen unconsciously when you are awake or when you are asleep.
While mild bruxism often involves the clenching, grinding or gnashing of teeth, it is generally not a cause for concern. However, for more severe cases, teeth grinding or clenching can be frequent and severe enough to lead to jaw disorders, headaches, damaged teeth and other oral-facial problems.
Teeth grinding can be difficult to identify, especially if it happens during sleep. Here are some of the signs that may indicate you have bruxism:
- Waking up with a sore tense jaw
- Being told by a partner who hears your grinding
- Dull headache that start in the temple area
- Sleep disruption – waking up due to teeth grinding or muscle discomfort.
- Increased tooth discomfort or sensitivity
- Teeth becoming more flattened, or that are fractured, chipped or loose
- Pain in your jaw joints
Our dentist may advise a night-guard (occlusal splint) for you to wear if you grind your teeth. These night guards can help protect the surfaces of the teeth from attrition or wear from your frequent grinding or clenching. When properly worn, a night guard also acts as a cushion for the inflamed jaw joints and prevents damage to your natural teeth from bruxism.
Mouthguards for contact sport
A mouthguard that may be advisable if you frequently participate in heavy collision sports such as rugby league, baseball, cricket, bike riding or boxing.
A heavy collision and accident while playing contact sports may result in chipped teeth, tooth loss, soft tissue injury and in severe cases, jaw injuries. This is why it is essential to wear a properly fitting mouth-guard while playing contact sports.