Night Guards in West Brattleboro, VT

Teeth grinding at night, also known as bruxism, is a common problem that affects people of all ages. While the most obvious sign of damage is wear on the surface of the teeth, nocturnal bruxism can also cause headaches, tooth pain, inflammation, and pain in the jaw and neck. To protect your mouth against these effects of teeth grinding, our board-certified Dental Health team offers custom night guards that can defend your mouth while you sleep. Custom night guards are made from high-quality materials to fit comfortably and help improve the quality of your sleep by reducing teeth grinding and jaw clenching. If you would like to learn more about custom night guards at Dental Health for you or a family member, schedule an appointment at our Brattleboro, VT office.

There are many signs that you may be grinding your teeth and/or clenching your jaw at night. You may wake up with a headache, tightness or pain in your jaw, and swelling in your lower face. Other signs include loose teeth or fillings, worn down enamel on the top of your back teeth, tooth sensitivity, and a receding gumline. Teeth grinding and clenching at night are typically caused by stress, but it may also be the result of allergies, misaligned teeth, a sleep disorder, or temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). When the Dental Health team is diagnosing your bruxism, they will also try to determine the cause so your night guard may be combined with another treatment for more effective results.

After our Dental Health team diagnoses your bruxism, they will take impressions and digital x-rays of your mouth so your custom night guard can be created. We will send your information to a dental laboratory where your night guard will be crafted out of high-quality materials. When your night guard is sent back to our office, you will come in to have it fitted. The Dental Health team may make minor adjustments so your night guard fits comfortably. We will also give you instructions on how to care for your night guard so it lasts a long time.

For your night guard to be effective, you need to wear it every night. Your night guard should minimize or eliminate the pain and dental problems caused by bruxism, but if it does not, please contact our office so our team can look for other issues or try other treatments. To help keep your mouth and night guard healthy, you should properly clean your teeth and guard before and after each use. Your night guard should be brought in to all future appointments so we can make adjustments or repairs as needed.

If you have been diagnosed with nocturnal bruxism or jaw clenching, part of the cost of your night guard may be covered by your dental insurance. If you have dental insurance, our office can contact your insurance carrier to confirm your benefits and coverage. During your consultation, our team can discuss cost estimates, with or without dental insurance, and payment methods. To make your treatment more affordable, Dental Health can help you apply for medical financing.

Teeth grinding can cause discomfort and pain in a variety of ways. Night guards are a great option to diminish the sleepless nights caused by the unpleasant side effects of nocturnal bruxism and jaw clenching. Custom night guards from Dental Health can also improve the overall health of your mouth and prevent future issues. If you think that this might be the remedy for you or a loved one, or you would like to learn more, contact our office in Brattleboro, VT to book a consultation with our board-certified Dental Health team.