What Is a Night Guard?
Individuals who grind their teeth or have temporomandibular joint (TMJ) issues may benefit from occlusal, or night guards. Our laboratory develops appliances that are soft on the inside for comfort and firm on the outside for durability. In our office, we take impressions of your teeth, which are then sent to a lab where the guard is custom-produced for a precise fit. These professional guards from Smith Family Dentistry in Saginaw, MI, are considerably higher quality and more comfortable to use than those available over the counter.
A night guard helps ease jaw pain and protect your teeth from damage caused by teeth grinding. Our dentists may also advise patients with crowns or veneers to wear night guards to protect their dental work.
Schedule a ConsultationWhat is Bruxism?
A night guard is a form of mouth guard used to treat bruxism, often known as teeth grinding and clenching. If our dentist or team suspects you have bruxism, we may suggest a night guard to protect your teeth and prevent grinding while you sleep. Because bruxism happens during sleep, many people are unaware they even have it until symptoms show up elsewhere.
Common indicators of nightly teeth clenching and grinding include:
- Persistent jaw, face, and ear pain
- Feeling fatigued or noticing a tight feeling in your jaw when you wake up
- Frequent tension headaches and migraines
- Excessive tooth wear, resulting in chipped, fractured, or severely worn teeth
- Tooth enamel that is worn down, revealing the inner layers of the tooth
- Indentations on the side of the tongue
- Increased tooth sensitivity
Why Untreated Bruxism Can Become a Bigger Problem
Left untreated, chronic teeth grinding does more than wear down enamel. Over time, the repeated pressure can loosen teeth, crack existing fillings or crowns, and place ongoing strain on the jaw joint, which can contribute to TMJ disorder. Because the damage builds up gradually, many patients don’t realize how much wear has occurred until a routine exam reveals it. Addressing bruxism early with a custom night guard helps protect the investment you’ve already made in your smile and prevents smaller issues from turning into more involved, costly treatment later on.
Ready to Protect Your Smile While You Sleep?
If you have bruxism, you may benefit from a personalized night guard, custom-fit to your smile so you can sleep peacefully while protecting your teeth. Contact Smith Family Dentistry in Saginaw, MI, today to learn more about night guards and how we can help you avoid the effects of teeth grinding.
Request an AppointmentFrequently Asked Questions
About Nightguards
If you’re waking up with jaw pain, headaches, or notice unusual tooth wear, our Saginaw, MI team can evaluate whether bruxism is the cause and whether a night guard is right for you.
A custom night guard from Smith Family Dentistry is molded specifically to your teeth for a secure, comfortable fit, while over-the-counter options are generic and often uncomfortable or ineffective.
The process typically involves taking an impression of your teeth in our office, then sending it to a lab for fabrication, after which we confirm the fit at a follow-up visit.
Yes, night guards are often recommended for patients with TMJ issues, since they reduce the strain placed on the jaw joint from grinding and clenching.
Yes, our dentists often recommend a night guard for patients with crowns or veneers to help prevent damage to that dental work from nighttime grinding.
Rinse your night guard with cool water after each use and clean it regularly to prevent bacteria buildup, similar to how you’d care for a retainer or mouth guard.
No, bruxism often happens during sleep, so many patients don’t realize they grind their teeth until a dentist notices the wear or a partner mentions hearing it at night.