For patients suffering from bruxism, a condition that involves chronic teeth grinding or clenching, a night guard can offer much-needed relief.

For children with adult teeth, a custom-made mouth guard will offer the best protection for their teeth and jaws. hard splints: Soft splints are made of a material that is boiled and formed to the teeth, and can be sold over the counter. Sports mouthguards are a type of dental splint that is used to protect teeth from injury during sports or physical activity. full-coverage splints: An anterior bite splint leaves the posterior teeth exposed, whereas a full-coverage splint covers all the teeth. There are various dentures, such as implant-supported dentures, removable dentures and permanent dentures, that can be used per the patient’s condition.A reline may be required, for which a fee will be necessary, or in severe cases a new splint will need to be made. They are made of a type of plastic that softens when warmed, and you can then mold the splint to fit over your teeth. The usage of a bite splint has several advantages, including the reduction of pain and suffering brought on by bruxism and TMJ conditions, defence against teeth grinding and clenching, stabilisation of the jaw and correction of misaligned bites, and enhancement of sleep. The night guard/splint works because it fits closely over the lower teeth and has a smooth upper surface against which the top teeth bite. At Beaches Dental Mona Vale, our professional staff has cared for patients’ dental needs for over 30 years.

Stress, anxiety, tension, anger, frustration, and other emotional reactions can act as triggers to nighttime teeth clenching or grinding. The bite splints bought online have also been associated with teeth movement, tissue damage, and can present a choking hazard.

A highly trained and experienced dentist and dental technician can make and fit these mouth guards/splints that can deprogram the muscles around your head, face and neck. Though night guards don’t always treat bruxism entirely, they can be an essential stopgap to protect the teeth, joints, and muscles during sleep. Chronic teeth clenching and teeth grinding can cause overuse of the muscles controlling the lower jaw, leading to pain from those muscles. A soft night-guard is made from soft acrylic and can be worn down very quickly by patients who suffer from severe clenching and grinding.

There is a subtle but important difference between treating teeth grinding and jaw clenching: Teeth grinding treatments focus on protecting the teeth, whereas jaw clenching treatment addresses jaw muscle tension. Disclaimer: This article is intended to promote understanding of and knowledge about general oral health topics. It is designed to protect natural teeth, crowns and implants from wear and cracking from clenching and grinding habits [Bruxism] and relieve muscle tension and painful joint symptoms. Reduction of the masticatory forces and treatment of patients with tension-headache (relaxation splint).These splints are made from a flexible plastic material and can be custom-fitted to an athlete’s teeth. Behr M, Hahnel S, Faltermeier A, Bürgers R, Kolbeck C, Handel G (2012) The two main theories on dental bruxism. In addition, they can also protect the teeth with crowns and large fillings that cover fractured teeth. As most people are unaware of their bruxism, it may surprise them to learn it may cause unexplained tooth pain.

Carlos claimed that he made his first mouthpiece in 1916 and later suggested his invention to the United States Olympian Dinnie O’Keefe in 1919.The patient should be monitored monthly thereafter for control of discomfort, and possible adjustment. If left to wear down as in the bottom photo, then bacteria can penetrate through to the nerve and a Root Canal may be required. Mouthguards may also prevent or reduce harm levels of concussion in the event of an injury to the jaw. Splints are known by a wide variety of names such as: intraoral appliance, stabilization appliance, occlusal appliance, interocclusal appliance, repositioning splint, bruxism splint, night guard, mouth guard, and others with names denoting commercial vendors promoting particular designs. Before beginning use of a bite splint for treatment, it is crucial to discuss any worries or queries with a dental practitioner.