Men and women who grind their teeth while they are sleeping have a common condition known as bruxism. Bruxism can become harmful to both the teeth and the jaw joints. Over time, night grinding can cause the teeth to become very worn down until eventually there is a little tooth structure remaining. This can affect a person’s ability to chew food correctly, can cause toothaches, facial pain, and headaches, and can dramatically change someone’s facial appearance. In order to prevent further tooth deterioration from grinding, an occlusal splint, or night guard, should be fabricated. Night guards are typically made from a soft or hard plastic material or a combination of booth. Prior to wearing a night guard, the appliance must be carefully adjusted so that the teeth opposite the night guard are in proper balance and occlusion (bite). A Prosthodontist is an expert in night guard design and knows how to accurately adjust the appliance for optimum function and patient comfort.
