Mouth Guards

One of the most common clinical signs of grinding is excessive wear on the biting surfaces of the teeth. Over time, repeated tooth-to-tooth contact can gradually wear away enamel, causing the teeth to appear flattened, shortened, or uneven. In more advanced cases, the enamel may be completely worn through in certain areas, exposing the softer underlying dentin and accelerating further tooth wear. Once tooth structure is lost from grinding, it cannot naturally grow back. If all biting surface enamel is worn away, the tooth will need a crown.

Grinding and clenching can generate significant forces that place repeated stress on the teeth. Over time, this stress may cause small chips, cracks, or larger fractures, particularly in teeth that are already weakened by large fillings. In more severe cases, a fracture can extend deep into the tooth and may require a crown, root canal treatment, or even extraction. Repeatedly chipping or fracturing teeth without an obvious cause can be an important clinical sign of excessive grinding or clenching.sk of future damage.

Grinding and clenching can place excessive forces on all dental restorations as well. Over time, these repeated forces may cause restorations to chip, fracture, loosen, or wear prematurely. Repeated failure of dental restorations—especially when there is no obvious decay or trauma can be an important clinical sign of excessive grinding or clenching.

Repeated grinding and clenching forces can contribute to the development of visible fracture lines in the teeth. These may appear as fine vertical lines within the enamel and are often more noticeable on the front teeth. While many superficial enamel lines are harmless and can occur naturally over time, numerous or pronounced fracture lines, especially on the back teeth may indicate a history of grinding or clenching..

Grinding and clenching can contribute to tooth sensitivity through repeated stress on the teeth. As the protective enamel becomes thinner, the underlying dentin may become exposed, making the teeth more sensitive to cold, heat, sweets, or biting pressure. In some cases, sensitivity may occur even without any visible signs. That is because excessive biting forces can cause teeth to become sensitive to temperature.t predictable result.

Grinding and clenching can overwork the muscles responsible for chewing, causing them to become tight, tired, or sore, just the same way your neck or shoulder muscles can become tender and painful if overused. These symptoms are often more noticeable upon waking after the jaw muscles have been active during sleep. Some patients may also experience discomfort while chewing or a feeling of fatigue or tension in the jaw that persists throughout the day.

Grinding and clenching can overwork the muscles of the jaw and temples, creating tension that may contribute to headaches. These headaches are often more noticeable upon waking because the muscles may have been working excessively throughout the night. The discomfort is commonly felt around the temples, forehead, or sides of the head and may occur along with jaw muscle tightness or soreness.

Small notches or areas of tooth structure loss can sometimes develop near the gumline, known as abfraction. They start small and enlarge over time, just the same way a pothole in the street starts as a very small hole and enlarges over time. These defects may have several contributing causes, including aggressive brushing, erosion, and repeated stress on the teeth from grinding or clenching. Excessive biting forces may contribute to stress in this area of the tooth, particularly when other signs of grinding or clenching are also present.

Some people grind their teeth loudly enough during sleep that a spouse or partner can hear it. The grinding may produce scraping, squeaking, or crunching sounds as the upper and lower teeth move against each other. Because you are asleep when this occurs, you may be completely unaware of the habit and only discover it after someone else brings it to your attention.

Many patients who grind or clench their teeth have no symptoms at all and are completely unaware that they are doing it. You may not experience tooth sensitivity, jaw soreness, headaches, or any other discomfort, even when significant grinding forces are present. In these cases, the first indication may be clinical signs noticed during a dental examination, such as excessive tooth wear, fracture lines, chipped teeth, or damaged restorations.

The mouth guard process begins with a careful evaluation of your teeth, bite, existing dental restorations, and the reason the appliance is needed. We look for signs of grinding or clenching, such as worn or flattened teeth, fracture lines, chipped restorations, gumline wear, and areas where excessive biting forces may be concentrated.

Once the appropriate type of mouth guard has been selected, an accurate impression or digital scan of your teeth is obtained. This creates a detailed reproduction of the shape and position of your teeth, allowing the dental laboratory to fabricate an appliance specifically for your mouth. A precise impression is essential for achieving a secure, comfortable, and stable fit.

Unlike an over-the-counter mouth guard, which is designed to fit a wide range of people, a custom mouth guard closely follows the individual contours of your teeth. This helps the appliance remain securely in position while minimizing unnecessary bulk and movement during use.

Once your custom mouth guard has been fabricated, you will return to our office for delivery. The appliance is carefully placed over your teeth to evaluate its fit, retention, comfort, and stability. A properly fitted mouth guard should remain securely in place without feeling excessively tight, loose, or bulky.

For night guards and certain day guards, we also carefully evaluate how the opposing teeth contact the appliance. The biting surface may require adjustments so that the forces are distributed appropriately and your bite feels balanced. These adjustments are an important part of the delivery process and are one of the major advantages of a professionally made appliance.

Before you leave, we will show you how to properly insert and remove your mouth guard and review how to clean, store and care for it. Minor adjustments may occasionally be needed after you begin wearing the appliance regularly, particularly if you notice pressure on a specific tooth, discomfort, or a change in how your bite feels.

Even a carefully fabricated custom mouth guard may require minor adjustments after you begin wearing it. Small areas may feel too tight, create pressure on an individual tooth, irritate the gums, or cause your bite to feel uneven. These concerns can often be corrected by making precise adjustments to the appliance.

For night guards, the way your opposing teeth contact the biting surface is particularly important. As you use the appliance, your bite may need to be refined so that the contacts remain balanced and comfortable. Adjustments may also become necessary over time as the guard wears or if changes occur in your teeth or dental restorations. If your night guard becomes uncomfortable, feels unusually tight or loose, or causes persistent tooth tenderness or changes in your bite, bring it to our office for evaluation. Do not attempt to trim, grind, reshape, or adjust the appliance yourself, as this can permanently alter its fit or function.