Night Guards
Do you notice that you grind or clench your teeth? Are you having pain in your jaw joints? There is an effective treatment to help combat these habits and symptoms called an Occlusal Guard, or a Night Guard.
A majority of grinding or clenching occurs during sleeping. Jaw pain, soreness, and teeth sensitivity are some of the effects of teeth grinding. Some patients may grind or clench their teeth in their sleep and not even be aware of it. Even if you are symptom free, Dr. Razavi will be able to tell during your examination and will notify you if wear patterns (flattened cusps on teeth, thinning enamel) are present.
An occlusal night guard is an excellent treatment option to combat the effects of grinding. An occlusal night guard is made of a firm plastic type material similar to a protective sports guard that is custom made to your teeth. By wearing the occlusal guard to sleep the jaw muscles relax and grinding and clenching of teeth are limited while sleeping. It is a safe, simple, effective treatment option that can limit teeth grinding, prevent jaw soreness, teeth sensitivity and decrease the risk of cavities as it helps keep the protective enamel layer intact.