Night Guards in Locust Grove, GA: A Patient Guide
Welcome to Sweet Spot Smiles, where we craft tailored dental solutions to protect your smile. Night guards at our Locust Grove office are custom-designed to prevent damage from teeth grinding while you sleep. Under the expert care of Dr. Linda King, Dr. Ivan Warner, and Dr. John Sieweke, each guard is a bespoke fit, ensuring comfort and effectiveness. Curious about how a night guard could help you? Call us at today!
About Custom Night Guards
A night guard is a slim, contoured device that fits over the upper or lower teeth, cushioning your bite and redistributing forces associated with bruxism, the medical term for teeth grinding and clenching. Signs of bruxism can include morning jaw soreness, headaches, worn or chipped enamel, tooth sensitivity, and jaw joint clicking, often noticed by patients without realizing they grind their teeth.
Custom guards differ from sports mouthguards and boil-and-bite products. While sports mouthguards are crafted to protect against blows, night guards offer continuous overnight protection from grinding. Over-the-counter options can feel cumbersome and may shift during sleep, reducing effectiveness. A custom dental night guard, however, is crafted from a precise model of your teeth for a more secure fit and comprehensive comfort.
Benefits of Night Guards
- Reduce tooth wear by absorbing grinding forces.
- Reduce jaw muscle fatigue and morning soreness.
- Provide support for TMJ comfort by stabilizing the bite.
- Reduce risk of cracked or fractured teeth.
- Improve sleep quality for many patients.
- Protect dental work such as crowns and veneers.
- Provide clear, easy-to-clean materials for better hygiene.
How Night Guards Work
A night guard positions a smooth, durable surface between your teeth. As the jaw moves, it disperses pressure and guides contact to safer areas, reducing microtrauma to enamel and decreasing strain on the temporomandibular joints. Options include soft, hard acrylic, and dual-laminate designs, chosen based on grinding intensity, bite stability, and comfort preferences.
Your Night Guard Journey
At Sweet Spot Smiles, your experience is of utmost importance to us. We kick off the process with a thorough consultation, examining signs of bruxism and discussing your symptoms. With our advanced digital scanner, we capture a detailed 3D model of your teeth. This ensures that the night guard we create in our lab fits you perfectly. During the fitting session, we make necessary adjustments for your comfort and effectiveness. Regular follow-ups are scheduled to monitor wear patterns and ensure ongoing protection.
Most patients begin with an upper guard, though a lower guard may be recommended for specific bite or airway considerations. dentist will guide you on the best arch, material, and thickness suited to your needs.
What to Expect
Adjusting to a night guard usually takes a few nights. Initially, you might experience extra saliva or mild pressure, but these effects fade as your jaw muscles adapt. While a custom night guard won’t "cure" bruxism, it shields teeth and joints from damage. Pairing its use with strategies like stress management, a regular sleep schedule, and addressing airway issues can be beneficial.
Care and Lifespan
- Rinse the guard after use and brush it gently with a soft brush.
- Use non-abrasive cleansers and avoid hot water that could warp the plastic.
- Store the guard dry in a ventilated case, keeping it away from pets and heat.
- Bring the guard to dental checkups for wear evaluation.
With proper care, many guards last one to five years, depending on grinding intensity. Replacement is recommended if cracks form, the fit loosens, or new dental work alters your bite.