If you have ever woken up with a sore jaw, tooth pain, or a headache, you may need a night guard. A night guard can help prevent jaw pain while protecting your teeth. 
When determining whether a night guard is necessary, Dr. Scott Mahlin will evaluate you for signs of excessive tooth wear, broken teeth and/or restorations. He will also check the TMJ (temporomandibular joint) and discuss your symptoms. Some TMJ symptoms include a sore jaw, a painful TMJ joint, or discomfort with your teeth.
Put a Stop to Clenching and Grinding
If you grind your teeth throughout the day or suspect that you grind your teeth at night, make an appointment with Dr. Mahlin for an evaluation. Over time, this habit can damage your teeth, causing irreplaceable loss of tooth enamel, increased tooth sensitivity, loss of tooth structure, cracked natural teeth and restorations, and potential tooth loss. Early intervention with a night guard (aka occlusal guard) will help mitigate tooth grinding damage.
Unchecked, grinding can lead to more frequent and expensive dental work. In the past, it was hard for people to understand or even conceptualize this. After all, it mostly happens during sleep, and it is hard to show someone the wear on their teeth over time.
However, using non-invasive, comfortable intraoral cameras, we can now diagnose and monitor the damage. We can take pictures between two visits and show the effects of grinding between those two visits.
Custom Night Guards in Chesterfield, MO
Most patients expect a nightguard to be the stereotypical big, bulky mouth guards that football players wear. However, our custom night guards are very small and slim compared to the over-the-counter "boil and fit" models. Many patients who have tried over-the-counter night guards complain about lack of retention and bulky, uncomfortable fit. The night guard we provide is custom-made to the individual patient’s teeth, providing a more comfortable feel.
The night guard fitting process is very quick, typically only requiring two dental appointments. First, we take impressions of your lower and upper teeth. Then we use the impressions to craft your custom night guard out of strong, durable plastic. Once the night guard has been made, we will assess the fit to make certain it is perfect.
Even if you are not currently experiencing pain, Dr. Mahlin recommends a dental night guard as a proactive approach. The night guard protects your natural teeth and dental restorations against grinding, clenching, or bruxism. Proactive planning and maintenance can help ensure that your teeth last a lifetime, saving you time and money in the long run. Our custom made night guards start at $615.
Caring for Your Night Guard
To get the most out of your night guard, you'll need to care for it properly. Cleaning a night guard is relatively easy. Use a soft toothbrush, lukewarm water, and a toothbrush to brush your night guard regularly, removing any plaque. Special dental solutions can also be used to clean a night guard. Either way, be sure to dry it after cleaning to prevent a buildup of bacteria, and when you attend your routine hygiene dental checkups, please bring your night guard with you. Our Clarkson Dental Group team will inspect the night guard for cleanliness and ensure it's providing the best protection.
Call Clarkson Dental Group in Chesterfield, MO if you believe you could benefit from a form-fitting night guard. Please contact the office at 636-537-0065 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Mahlin.
