Night Guard
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A to Z Dental Studio
General Dentist & Cosmetic Dentist located in Fairfax, VA
Chronic conditions like teeth grinding and temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) can leave you with toothaches, jaw pain, and debilitating headaches. At A to Z Dental Studio in Fairfax, Virginia, Hiba Zakhour, DDS, makes custom-fit night guards, mouthguards, and sports guards to protect your smile in nearly any situation. Schedule an appointment by phone today, or book an appointment online with A to Z Dental Studio to learn more.
Night Guard Q & A
What is a night guard?
A night guard is a custom-made dental device that fits over the teeth in your top or bottom arch to protect them while you sleep. Night guards help correct uncomfortable bite problems and keep your teeth from rubbing together, preventing unnecessary damage and pain.
Why would I need a night guard?
There are many reasons the dental professionals at A to Z Dental Studio recommend night guards, but the two most common are:
Bruxism
Bruxism is the medical term for teeth grinding. It occurs most often at night, when you can’t control it. Teeth grinding can happen at any time, but it’s most common during times of stress.
Over time, bruxism wears down and damages your teeth. Without treatment, repeated teeth grinding increases your risk of chips, cracks, fractures, shortened teeth, and muscular pain in your jaw.
TMJ
Your temporomandibular joints connect the temporal bones in your skull, near your ears, to your jaw. These hinge-like joints play a crucial role in the way you chew, bite down, speak, and move your mouth. Any type of damage to the temporomandibular joints or the muscles that surround them can lead to TMJ.
TMJ can become debilitating without treatment. You can lose range of motion in your jaw from chronic jaw pain, tightness, popping, and clicking.
What is the process like for getting a night guard?
The process for a custom-fit night guard is similar to the process for mouth guard and sports guards. After a comprehensive dental exam that includes X-rays, your provider at A to Z Dental Studio takes highly accurate impressions of your mouth to serve as models for your new night guard.
It can take a couple of weeks to make a custom night guard. At your next visit, your provider inserts the night guard to ensure it looks and feels comfortable. The goal of any type of mouthguard is to cushion your teeth and relieve pressure from your temporomandibular joints, so it’s important the fit is perfect.
If your night guard doesn’t fit as comfortably as it should, return to A to Z Dental Studio for any necessary adjustments.
A properly fitting night guard can relieve pain, protect your teeth from damage, and restore your bite. To schedule a consultation with an experienced provider at A to Z Dental Studio, call the office or book an appointment online today.