2002 Spring Arbor Road, Suite C, Jackson(517) 782-0900
Grinding wears, chips and loosens teeth and can bring jaw pain and headaches. A custom splint or guard protects you while you sleep.
Grinding, or bruxism, mostly happens during sleep, so many people do not know they do it until someone nearby hears it or the teeth show it. Teeth can become fractured, chipped or loose, or worn flat, which can bring pain or sensitivity as the enamel wears.
Occasional, very mild grinding may not need treatment. Frequent grinding can lead to jaw pain, chronic headaches, damaged teeth and disturbed sleep, so severe bruxism needs relief.
Dental splints and mouthguards fit over your upper or lower teeth to keep them apart and prevent damage, and they are worn at night. Severely worn teeth may need restoring, for example with crowns.
It is made to fit your bite and puts a barrier between your teeth while you sleep, which may reduce jaw discomfort, headaches and enamel wear.
It can contribute to tooth wear, cracks, gum changes and jaw discomfort, which is why an early evaluation helps.
Some patients notice improvement within a few days of wearing a night guard; for others it takes longer.