At Premier Dental Care, we offer a wide range of general dentistry services to ensure that our office is prepared to help you no matter what dental concern you may have.
One of our general dentistry services is providing custom mouthguards to patients as an alternative to store-bought options. Often, patients are surprised at the various uses of custom mouthguards. Beyond participation in sports, many treatment plans incorporate the use of a custom mouthguard to address underlying dental concerns. Learn the three uses for custom mouthguards below:
Custom Mouthguards for Sports
Many sports require the use of a mouthguard for all participants. High-contact sports like wrestling, football, basketball, soccer, and cheerleading encourage the use of a mouthguard to prevent unwanted dental damage. Your smile is at risk each time you participate in a sport without using a mouthguard.
ccidents happen all the time, and it’s important to protect your smile from trauma. Often, sports accidents lead to dental damages like broken teeth or permanent tooth loss, which may require costly, invasive care to correct.
Using a mouthguard while playing sports can help save you time and money later by helping you avoid the need for restorative dentistry solutions.
Custom Mouthguards for TMJ Treatment
TMJ disorders occur when too much tension is being applied to the joints in your jaw that control your eating and speaking functionality. Often the result of long-term jaw clenching or teeth grinding, TMJ disorders can cause painful symptoms like jaw pain, tension headaches, and earaches.
It’s important to mention these symptoms to your dentist during your biannual appointments. Custom mouthguards are often offered to patients with mild to moderate TMJ disorders to manage unwanted symptoms.
The custom mouthguard can be worn during jaw pain flareups or at night while you sleep. They are designed to hold your jawbone in a healthy resting position that will relieve tension while in use.
Custom Mouthguards for Bruxism
Bruxism, also known as teeth grinding, is a detrimental habit that can have severe effects on the well-being of your dental health. If you or a loved one grinds their teeth at night while they sleep or when they are under high stress, it’s important to talk to your dentist about preventative measures you can take to reduce the risk of dental damages.
Left untreated, bruxism can lead to worn-down teeth, increased sensitivity, and the development of a TMJ disorder. A custom mouthguard can be used at night to protect your teeth while you sleep. Since most patients with bruxism grind their teeth while they sleep, the custom mouthguard can be used to offset any grinding.
The mouthguard takes all the impact that your teeth would otherwise suffer from without it.
If you are interested in learning how a custom mouthguard could benefit you and your smile, schedule an appointment with one of our Antelope Valley dentist offices. We look forward to seeing you soon.