Night Guard/Mouth Guard
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What is a mouth guard and what is it used for?
A mouth guard is a device that is meant to protect the teeth and gums from damage or injury. Based upon their application, different types of mouth guards serve different purposes in dentistry. For instance:
Trauma Protection: Mouth guards can be worn by athletes during sports that can potentially damage the mouth. Sports such as rugby, football, wrestling, martial arts, boxing, baseball, ice hockey, gymnastics, polo, basketball and skating among others are a few examples where players/athletes can sustain direct blows to the teeth and gums. Mouth guards protect the teeth and the soft tissues that hold them firmly in their sockets to reduce chances of tissue damage due to sports injury.
TMJ disorder treatment: Special types of mouth guards can be custom fabricated for patients to treat stress-related inflammation of the temporo-mandibular joint. The guard/splint reduces strain on the joint, thus gradually alleviating symptoms.
Treatment of Bruxism: Bruxism is a condition whereby a patient grinds his/her teeth out of habit, or due to stress. This mostly occurs at night and is also known as night-time teeth grinding. This causes attrition of the opposing teeth, which is a type of dental wear that can lead to dentin exposure if left untreated. A night guard in this case protects the occlusal surfaces of the teeth so they do not come in contact with each other while the patient sleeps.
Clear Aligners: Mouth guards have also been modified for orthodontic treatments. Clear aligners also resemble conventional mouth guards and are used for bringing mal-aligned teeth into straighter positions for a more attractive smile.
Treatment of Sleep Apnea: Mouth guards can also be modified to create tongue stabilization devices that help in the management of patients suffering from sleep apnea.
Mouth guards can protect your teeth and soft tissues from different kinds of injuries. We at Salado Creek Dental believe that prevention is better than cure. If you are in need of a mouth guard, give us a call today, or simply visit the office for professional consultation!