A night guard is an appliance that is worn while sleeping to protect the teeth from tooth wear because of frequent grinding or clenching. Excessive teeth grinding and clenching is called “bruxism.” A night guard or bruxism appliance typically covers all the teeth in one arch and is flat on top. When an individual grinds or clenches, the teeth do so against the appliance and not the opposing teeth. This prevents wearing away of the tooth structure. So, what if I grind my teeth every once in a while? It may not seem like a big deal if you grind or clench your teeth and you may not notice any adverse effects. The problem is that over time it can have a significant impact on our teeth and result in severe wear. When many teeth are worn down it is very costly to repair because it requires crowns on every single tooth. Grinding your teeth can cause several other conditions including:

Types of night guards

The two most common types of night guards will cover all your teeth. There are others available that provide partial coverage as well. Our office offers the following:

Professional dentist made night guards require an impression of your teeth and have the following qualities:

Ask your hygienist at Keele & Sheppard Dentistry for additional information about the best way to keep your night guard clean.