Some patients go to dental clinics because they can’t get good quality sleep due to bruxism. Bruxism is a condition where individuals grind or clench their teeth, leading to detrimental effects. As dentists, you can recommend your patients wear night guards when sleeping. These oral appliances provide a barrier between the upper and lower teeth that can prevent bruxism. In this blog post, we will list down ways your patients can benefit from night guards.
Night Guards Protect Teeth from Grinding and Clenching
As mentioned above, bruxism can cause harm to the teeth. Tooth sensitivity, enamel erosions, and teeth fractures are just some of the effects of bruxism. When wearing night guards, it absorbs the forces caused by excessive grinding and clenching, acting like a cushion. Night guards protect teeth from severe damage and help your patients preserve and prolong their natural teeth. With this, they can avoid extensive dental restorations caused by bruxism.
Night Guards Help Alleviate Jaw Pain
Extreme jaw pain is an excruciating symptom of bruxism. Usually, bruxism is closely linked with temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ) which also causes headaches and facial discomfort. When your patients wear night guards, it helps alleviate jaw pain by providing a stable occlusion which reduces jaw joints and muscle strains. Night guards also minimize the impact of bruxism symptoms on TMJ, which offers relief to your patients.
Night Guards Prevent Tooth Sensitivity
The enamel layer of the teeth can wear down because of bruxism. When the dentin is exposed, it causes discomfort and even pain when consuming hot, cold, or acidic foods and beverages. Night guards reduce the risk of enamel erosion by shielding the teeth from grinding and clenching. In return, this helps patients preserve their tooth sensitivity.
Night Guards Improve Sleep Quality
To the aforementioned statement, patients visit dental clinics because of restless nights. Bruxism disturbs the sleep patterns of the patient and potentially everyone around them. The barrier offered by a night guard eliminates the noise caused by grinding and clenching, while also preventing bruxism overall. With this, night guards can improve the sleep quality of your patients when they wear them at night.
Night Guards Reduces the Risk of Jaw Dislocation
Unfortunately, if bruxism is left untreated, it can cause jaw dislocation. This is when a patient’s lower jaw becomes temporarily misaligned. Jaw dislocation can be painful and will need immediate dental attention. However, with night guards, they can reduce the chances of jaw dislocation by providing a supportive structure for the jaw to stay relaxed and neutral position during sleep.
Bottomline
As a dental professional, you should recommend your patients with bruxism wear night guards when they sleep. With numerous benefits, night guards protect them from teeth grinding and clenching, preventing further painful harm. Emphasizing the benefits of night guards to your patients can help them manage bruxism and improve their overall oral health. Always remember to provide proper guidance on how to use night guards and ways to maintain them to maximize efficacy.
In need of top-notch quality dental products and lab services? We have it all at Next Dental Lab! Contact us for more information.
