NIGHT GUARDS DENTISTRY IN MCKINNEY, TX
Best Dentist McKinney
WHAT IS A NIGHT GUARD?
A night guard is a protective plastic tray that fits around your teeth and gums like a retainer. Also referred to as occlusal guards or mouthguards, they can be worn while you sleep at night or during the day when engaging in activities that could cause oral injury.
Wearing a mouthguard can prevent injury and damage to your gums, teeth, and jaw due to bruxism and dental trauma, as well as reduce pain associated with TMJ. Contact us at Experience Dental today to schedule an appointment with your dentist in McKinney, TX. Our office is located at 7001 S. Custer Road, Suite 200, McKinney, TX, 75070.
DID YOU KNOW…
Sleep apnea increases your risk of having a heart attack or stroke and in milder cases, a custom-fit mouthguard can provide similar treatment effects as a CPAP machine.
READY TO SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT?
WHAT TO EXPECT AT YOUR PREVENTIVE DENTAL APPOINTMENT
CONSULTATION
First, you’ll come in for a consultation with your McKinney Dentist, who will perform an oral exam and possibly take some x-rays to look for signs of damage to the teeth and jaw. Dr. Lee will determine if a mouthguard is the best method of treatment for you.
IMPRESSIONS
If you’re considered a good candidate for a mouthguard, impressions will be taken of your teeth and sent to a dental lab so they can create a custom-fit mouthguard that conforms to your bite and fits snugly over your teeth and gums.
GUARD FABRICATION
It will take a few weeks for your thermoplastic night guard to be fabricated.
PICK-UP & FOLLOW UPS
Once your night guard is ready, you’ll return for a second appointment to check the fit and make any final adjustments.
WHAT PROBLEMS DO NIGHT GUARDS TREAT?
BRUXISM
TMJ
SPORTS INJURY
SLEEP APNEA
BRUXISM
Those who suffer from bruxism have a habitual tendency to clench or grind their teeth while they sleep at night. Because this behavior is done unconsciously, the sufferer does not have control over the clenching.
The severe pressure applied to the teeth is significantly stronger than the force applied when chewing and can risk wearing down the enamel or even severely chipping or cracking the teeth. By wearing a mouthguard, your teeth are protected from damage, and the acrylic night guard cushions your jaw muscles to reduce pain.
TMJ
TMJ causes limited range of motion and pain in the jaw as well as causing clicking sounds when opening the mouth wide. Bruxism and oral trauma can cause or worsen TMJ.
A mouthguard helps treat TMJ by relaxing the jaw muscles responsible for contracting by repositioning the jaw. It also reduces damage from grinding which contributes to TMJ pain. Wearing a mouthguard also prevents lockjaw and clicking.
SPORTS INJURY
It’s recommended that you wear a mouthguard when playing contact sports to reduce the risk of dental trauma. If you suffer from an injury to the teeth or jaw, this can increase your risk for broken, chipped, or severely damaged teeth as well as TMJ. A mouthguard will absorb the force if you bite down on your teeth and protect your jaw.
SLEEP APNEA
In mild or moderate cases of sleep apnea, mouth devices can be used as an alternative to CPAP machines to help open the airway while the patient is sleeping. A tongue splint (tongue retaining device) holds the tongue in place to prevent the tongue from blocking the airway.
A mandibular advancement device (MAD) can snap onto the upper and lower teeth to shift the alignment of the jaw. These oral devices also help to reduce snoring by shifting the jaw forward to open the patient’s airway.
DID YOU KNOW…
You should always brush and floss your teeth before putting your mouthguard in.
INTERESTED IN A PREVENTIVE SERVICES?
