What Are Occlusal Guards and How Do They Safeguard Your Smile?

An occlusal guard, also known as a bite guard or night guard, is a mouthguard that fits over your upper or lower teeth, helping protect them from damage or wear caused by chronic teeth grinding and clenching, a condition known as bruxism. At Parker Prosthodontics, we create custom occlusal guards from impressions of your teeth to provide a comfortable fit and personalized protection for your smile. Our experienced prosthodontist and team are all about prevention rather than treating dental health concerns after they develop.

Understanding Bruxism and Its Impacts on Your Smile

While teeth grinding and clenching may occur during the day, a condition known as awake bruxism, many patients do so in their sleep, often without realizing it. They usually discover this chronic condition when a partner or family member alerts them, or when telltale signs appear during a preventive dental exam.

The constant forces of grinding and clenching can lead to a host of complications, including the following:

• Uneven Tooth Wear and Fracture: Grinding and clenching can leave you with severely worn, flattened, chipped, cracked, or otherwise damaged teeth, impacting their strength and integrity.
• Tooth Sensitivity: Tooth enamel loss and damage can lead to increased sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures and can leave the teeth more prone to decay.
• Damaged Dental Work: Bruxism can put undue strain on your dental restorations, such as veneers, crowns, and implants, leading to premature wear and damage.
• Loose or Tender Teeth: Excessive pressure from grinding and clenching may, over time, leave your teeth feeling tender or can, in some cases, contribute to tooth mobility.
• Jaw Pain and TMJ Disorders: Habitual teeth grinding and clenching put enormous strain on your temporomandibular joints, or TMJs, often leading to pain, popping or clicking when opening or closing the mouth, and even jaw locking in severe cases.
• Headaches and Facial Pain: Nighttime grinding can cause tightening of the facial, head, and neck muscles, leaving you with frequent morning headaches.
• Sleep Disruptions: Sleep bruxism is often linked to serious sleep disorders, such as sleep apnea, disrupting your sleep and leaving you with daytime fatigue.

How Does an Occlusal Guard Protect Your Smile?

An occlusal guard acts like a protective shield between the upper and lower teeth, helping redistribute and absorb the forces of grinding and clenching. While your custom dental appliance isn’t necessarily a cure for bruxism, preventing tooth-to-tooth contact can help relieve many of its symptoms. Patients report fewer morning headaches and relief from facial or jaw pain. Wearing a night guard consistently is key to safeguarding your smile and enhancing your overall quality of life.

What Are Sports Mouthguards?

At Parker Prosthodontics, we also offer custom sports mouthguards for patients involved in contact or high-impact sports or other activities that increase the risk of dental injury. These protective guards help absorb the forces of sudden impact, reducing the risk of sports-related dental injuries. Patients of all ages should consider them a necessary part of their athletic gear.

Occlusal Guards Near Me in Dallas, TX

If you would like to learn more about protecting your smile with a night guard or sports mouthguard, contact Parker Prosthodontics to schedule a consultation. Our experienced prosthodontist and team will customize your protective occlusal guard to provide the best possible protection for your smile.

Call 214-550-1945 to schedule your appointment or request one online today. We look forward to caring for all your dental health needs.