Occlusal Guards for Teeth Grinding Problems

If you’re waking up every night feeling unrested, your jaw is aching, or you have a headache, chances are that you may be grinding your teeth during your sleep. Teeth grinding is a serious issue, so today we’re going to look at this issue along with the most common solution: occlusal guards.

The Negative Effects of Teeth Grinding

Teeth grinding happens for a variety of reasons; it can be due to stress and anxiety, but in many cases it’s caused by an abnormal bite or crooked teeth. Chronic teeth grinding can be bad for your overall long-term dental health because it can lead to loosening or fracturing of your teeth—even complete tooth loss. Over time, you can even wear your teeth down to stumps if you grind too much for too long. This can lead to major tooth repair work like dentures, root canals, implants, etc.

In short, you really don’t want to get to that stage with your teeth grinding, and it’s better to catch it sooner rather than later. If you suspect you’re grinding your teeth, you can always come to the dentist to get an evaluation. A dentist will be able to look at your teeth and determine whether or not you’re wearing away your teeth in abnormal ways through teeth grinding.

What Are Occlusal Guards?

Once it’s determined that you do grind your teeth, oftentimes occlusal guards are usually what’s used to help people stop grinding their teeth. Occlusal guards are like retainers that you wear to keep your teeth straight after braces, except that their function is very different. They fit over the teeth and help relax your jaw and guard your teeth so that you aren’t grinding down on them in unhealthy ways. They are often used overnight and even during the day if needed.

If you need an occlusal guard, you’ll need to visit your dentist to get molds made of your teeth. Depending on the needs of the patient, you may only need a top guard (called a maxillary guard) or a bottom guard (called a mandibular guard).Your dentist will then send this away for a custom-made occlusal guard. Once the guard is ready, your dentist will make sure it fits and walk you through ways to take care of your guard.

If you have any questions or concerns about teeth grinding and occlusal guards, Victory Dental can help you navigate this issues. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us about any and all dental needs!