To Guard Or Not To Guard?

By Cindia L. Nutter, RDH, BS

Michael King DDS (Mira Dental Care)

More Dental Health Articles

To Guard Or Not To Guard?

A night guard is a removable protective device for the mouth that is molded to fit the upper or lower arches of teeth to prevent and reduce premature wear and injury. They are used to protect tooth surfaces from bruxism, manage jaw dysfunction (TMJ/TMD), reposition the jaw to improve occlusion, and help jaw muscle relaxation. Many people are prone to bruxism or nighttime clenching and or grinding, and should routinely wear guards at night. Occlusal night guards are typically made of a heat-cured acrylic resin and are generally worn flat against the opposing teeth.

A person can actually grind their teeth so hard while asleep that significant amounts of tooth structure can be lost over time. The force of the human bite in chewing is usually given as around 70 pounds per square inch, however the jaws can consciously be clenched to produce a force about twice as strong as chewing. Men and women who unconsciously grind their teeth at night, in a disorder called bruxism, exert even more force, perhaps 6 to 10 times as much, by some estimates. Teeth breakdown occurs over the course of a lifetime of chewing, grinding, and clenching or by any other process that causes a lot of force stress. Why does this breakdown matter you ask?

Symptoms of bruxism are worn areas on teeth, fractured teeth, craze or stress fracture lines, broken fillings, ill-fitting crown and bridge margins, teeth sensitivity, loose teeth, bony ridges, cheek and/or tongue irritation, sore jaw muscles, headaches, clicking and popping of the TMJ. When a tooth is prey to bruxism effects it's bound to have some type of costly dental treatment in its future. If we choose to do nothing, the conditions will worsen and future potential problems will be inevitable. Future potential problems include cavities, crows, root canals, and even tooth loss.

Wearing the night guard can alleviate the issues that can be caused by improper bite stresses, jaw problems, and increased wear on the tooth enamel. It is one of the simplest forms of treatment, which effectively addresses the orthodontic issues mentioned above. The importance in wearing the device is to increase the likelihood of improved long-term oral health of your teeth. When or if you are diagnosed with bruxism or treatment planned to have a night guard your best decision making skills can be put to the test. In the end to guard or not to guard is a choice you must make for your situation as you do what is best for you, however a small investment for prevention leads to more than an ounce of costly potential future dental treatment later.