Night Guards (Custom Dental Appliance for Teeth Grinding, Bruxism) – Dallas/Fort Worth/Arlington, TX

Bruxism, or grinding your teeth while you sleep, is an everyday issue that affects many men and women. Even though the most recognizable indicator is deterioration of the enamel of the teeth, nocturnal bruxism might also lead to inflammation, headaches, and tooth pain, plus discomfort in your neck and jaw. To guard your mouth against the effects of bruxism, our skilled dentists provide customized night guards that defend your teeth while you rest. Custom night guards are made with top-quality materials that fit comfortably in your mouth and improve the nature of your sleep by diminishing jaw clenching and teeth grinding. If you are interested in learning more about custom night guards at Ah! Dentistry, set up a consultation at one of our three DFW area locations.

A number of symptoms may indicate that you are grinding your teeth and/or clenching your jaw while you sleep. You might wake up in the morning with tightness and pain in your jaw, or a headache, and facial swelling. Other indicators are loosened teeth and/or fillings, chipped enamel on your back teeth, a receding gumline, and tooth sensitivity. Teeth grinding and jaw clenching at night are often caused by stress but could also be brought on by misaligned teeth, allergies, a sleep disorder, or temporomandibular joint disorder (called TMD). As a bruxism diagnosis is made, your Ah! Dentistry dentist will also try to identify the cause so that your night guard therapy can be coupled with other treatments for the best possible outcomes.

After bruxism diagnosis is made, our dental team will obtain oral impressions and digital oral x-rays to create your custom night guards. Next, we will send your specifications to a special dental lab where your customized night guard will be created using the best materials. After your night guard is finished and sent back to our office, you will return to our office for a fitting. Small adjustments may be made so that it fits properly and comfortably. A member of our team will also give specific instructions on how to properly care for your night guard so it will last many years.

For maximum efficiency, you should wear your night guard each night. It should diminish or alleviate the discomfort and dental complications created by bruxism, but if it does not, please inform our staff so we can address additional issues and try other options. In order to help keep your mouth and night guard in pristine condition, we recommend that you clean and care for both your mouth and night guard prior to and after each use. We ask that you bring your night guard to all future dental appointments so we can adjust and repair the guard as necessary.

Once you receive a bruxism diagnosis, some of the cost of your night guard should be paid for by your dental insurance provider. If you have dental insurance, our billing personnel will call your insurance carrier to determine your benefits and costs. At your preliminary appointment, we will give you information about our accepted payment methods, as well as your costs, with or without insurance. To help you afford your dental care, Ah! Dentistry can help you to qualify for medical financing.