Night Guards

Dental night guards are plastic appliances which are worn, usually while you sleep, to keep the teeth from grinding together. The may be constructed of hard or soft material and may be worn over the upper or lower teeth. There are literally hundreds of different designs.

Guards are worn for a variety of reasons. Most of the time, they are prescribed by the dentist to relieved stress on the teeth, muscles, and bones caused by night ginding, or "bruxism". By keeping the teeth apart or limiting contact to the front teeth, the guard prevents reflexive clenching and grinding that wears teeth, damages restorations, and can fatigue the jaw muscles to the point of painful spasms.

More and more, cosmetic dentists are including night guards as part of the total treatment plan to protect the many porcelain crowns, bridges, and veneers from breakage.