Night Guards
Custom Night Guards in Middletown, New Jersey
Our mouths come in all shapes and sizes, but over the counter stock night guards are made one-size-fits-all. This can prevent the guard from staying in place during sleeping or sporting activities, inhibiting its effectiveness. Custom made night guards from our Middletown, New Jersey family dental office fit each patient perfectly, and stay in place when talking, sleeping, or playing sports.
Mouth Guards for Sports
Wearing a guard during physical activities can prevent trauma to the teeth and in some cases protect against concussions. The American Dental Association recommends that a mouth guard is worn during all contact sports. Approximately 90% of sports injuries that affect the head involve the top, front teeth. (1) A custom guard will stay in place if trauma should occur, and prevent injury during a subsequent impact when a stock guard likely would not.
Mouth Guards for TMJ Disorders
Therapeutic mouth guards are also useful for treating the symptoms and causes of TMJ disorder. Common symptoms of TMJ disorder include:
- Headaches
- Neck pain radiating into the shoulders
- Muscle spasms
- A clicking noise during opening or closing of the jaw
- Broken, worn teeth
Experts recommend using non-invasive therapeutic approaches to treating TMJ disorder, as surgical treatments such as disk replacement have a low success rate. (2) By making her patient’s a custom mouth guard to wear during sleep, Doctor can help the patient’s teeth set in a resting position, preventing muscle strain. This is done by special alignment of the teeth and jaw joint, through a specially fabricated mouthpiece. Many of doctor’s patients report improvement of their symptoms within just a few days.
Sleep Apnea Therapy
The use of a night guard can prevent the restriction of breathing during the night. Patients that visit our Monmouth County family dental office can be fitted for a custom appliance that will promote quieter, sounder sleep. This appliance positions the jaw in a way that prevents the collapse of soft tissues in the back of the mouth, allowing the patient to breathe properly as they sleep.
