Custom-Fitted Night Guards For Teeth Grinding

Protect Your Teeth And Get Restful Sleep

If you grind and clench your teeth at night, you may be putting your oral health at risk. Teeth grinding can damage your jaw muscles, weaken your teeth, making them more susceptible to cavities, or even chip and break your teeth over time.

But at Capital Esthetics & Family Dentistry, Dr. Diane Pham can help! With a custom-fitted night guard in Vienna, VA, you can protect your teeth, reduce stress on your jaw muscles, and keep your smile healthy for years to come. 

Recognizing The Signs Of Nighttime Teeth Grinding

Do you grind your teeth at night? It’s not always easy to tell, especially if you don’t constantly grind your teeth as you sleep. Here are some signs to look out for:

• Sleeping partner hears clicking, popping, and grinding sounds
• Small chips or tooth wear, especially to your front teeth
• Sore jaw muscles when you wake up
• Frequent headaches or jaw pain, especially in the morning
• Teeth that are sensitive to heat, cold, and pressure
• Tinnitus (ringing of the ears)

If you’re still not sure whether or not you grind your teeth, it’s best to see a dentist like Dr. Diane Pham. She can examine your teeth and look for telltale signs of teeth grinding.

How Do Night Guards Work?

Night guards look similar to an Invisalign aligner or a plastic retainer. But their purpose is a bit different. They are designed to protect your teeth from the force of nighttime teeth grinding (bruxism).

Night guards are made from tough, smooth plastic and are designed to fit perfectly over your teeth. When worn to sleep, night guards prevent direct contact between the upper and lower teeth. In turn, this protects the teeth from wear and tear, chipping, or even cracking or breaking. 

Usually, you’ll only need one night guard for your upper teeth or your lower teeth. But in extreme cases of grinding, Dr. Pham may recommend that you get both upper and lower night guards for maximum protection.

The Benefits Of Custom-Fitted Night Guards

Wondering if a custom-fitted night guard from Capital Esthetics & Family Dentistry is really worth it? Here are just a few reasons why you should choose a professionally-made night guard instead of an off-the-shelf model from your local drugstore or supermarket:

Superior protection

Custom-fitted night guards are built from strong, durable plastic that can hold up to significant chewing and biting forces. In contrast, most off-the-shelf night guards are made from gummy, rubbery materials that don’t hold up well to teeth grinding.

Better durability

Along with better protection for your teeth, custom-fitted night guards last much longer than off-the-shelf products. Depending on how hard you grind your teeth, your new night guard can last up to five years before it requires replacement.

Enhanced comfort

Custom-fitted night guards are made from plastic that’s super strong but is still very thin, and they're designed to fit perfectly over your teeth. After you wear it a couple of times, you’ll forget it’s even there, and you’ll be able to fall asleep quickly and rest easily all night.

No teeth shifting

Some off-the-shelf night guards can actually cause your teeth to shift, especially products that don’t cover all of your teeth and only cushion the rear teeth. Since custom-fitted night guards cover all of your teeth, you don’t have to worry about ruining the alignment of your teeth.

Keep it clean

Since they're usually made of soft, gummy plastic, keeping off-the-shelf night guards clean can be difficult. Hard plastic night guards are much easier to clean and maintain. And if you bring your night guard with you to your six-month checkups with Dr. Pham, we can use our powerful ultrasonic cleaner to blast away plaque, bacteria, and other buildup on your night guard.