Nightguards and Occlusal Splints

Signs You May Need a Nightguard
Many people grind their teeth at night without even realizing it. You may be experiencing bruxism if you wake up with:

• Morning Symptoms: Dull, chronic headaches or unexplained facial and jaw muscle soreness.
• Joint Discomfort: Clicking, popping, or painful tension in your jaw joints (TMJ).
• Tooth Damage: Flattened, chipped, or cracked teeth, or teeth that are increasingly sensitive to hot and cold.
• Disrupted Sleep: A partner hearing grinding noises while you sleep.

Benefits of a Custom Nightguard

• Prevents Tooth Wear: Stops teeth from being flattened, worn down, or fractured by intense nighttime forces.
• Shields Dental Work: Protects your premium dental investments, including composite or porcelain veneers, crowns, bridges, and dental implants, from breaking under pressure.
• Relieves Muscle Pain: Relaxes the jaw muscles and takes the pressure off your jaw joints, preventing chronic headaches and facial pain.
• Saves on Future Costs: Wearing a nightguard is a simple, cost-effective way to avoid major structural tooth damage that requires expensive crowns or root canals to fix later.

Custom-Made vs. Over-the-Counter

• The Custom Fit: Our nightguards are custom-molded to your exact bite using high-precision scans or impressions. They stay securely in place, distribute pressure evenly, and allow you to breathe and swallow comfortably.
• The Retail Risk: Store-bought, “boil-and-bite” guards are bulky and do not fit your bite precisely. They can often worsen jaw pain and accelerate tooth movement by applying uneven pressure.

Critical Care and Maintenance Instructions

• Morning Routine: Rinse your nightguard in cool water immediately after waking up and clean it gently with a toothbrush. Do not use toothpaste, as it can scratch the material.
• Safe Storage: Store the appliance dry in its ventilated protective case away from children and pets.
• Avoid Heat: Never wash your nightguard in hot water or leave it in a hot car, as extreme temperatures will warp its shape.
• Regular Checks: Bring your nightguard to your six-monthly check-ups at Hallam Dental Clinic so your dentist can inspect it for wear and ensure it still fits your bite perfectly.

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