Patients often ask us if we provide mouthguards, and we happily say yes! As your Toledo, OH dentist, we can provide you with custom mouthguards for all of your dental protection needs. Custom mouthguards are a great investment for your dental health. Unlike over-the-counter options, they are made specifically for you and your smile. This ensures that you will not experience slippage or an uncomfortable fit. Here are three ways that mouthguards are used to treat a variety of dental concerns:
Custom Mouthguards for Sports
If you play any sports like football, baseball, gymnastics, cheerleading, or wrestling, you may be required to use a mouthguard while participating. While some patients will settle for the storebought mouthguards, we suggest talking to your dentist about what can be done. Storebought mouthguards are a one-size-fits-all approach to dental protection. This means that if your teeth are not the standard shape and size, your mouthguard may not even fit your mouth. Our custom mouthguards are made using dental impressions of your own smile, meaning you don’t have to wonder if it will fit you. Additionally, this reduces the risk of mid-game slippage, which can be distracting and also put your dental health at risk.
Custom Mouthguards for Teeth Grinding
Teeth grinding is a common dental concern that occurs usually unconsciously while you sleep. If you are under a big amount of stress, you may grind your teeth at night as a result. The Hires Dental Care team looks for signs and symptoms of teeth grinding during your routine appointments. However, if you commonly wake up with any jaw pain or facial soreness, you should let us know. We can help you manage your teeth grinding using a custom nightguard, or a mouthguard that is designed to be worn while you sleep. The nightguard will help prevent unwanted dental damages from occurring and save your jaw joints from the unintended pressure caused by the repeated grinding motion. We can also offer restorative dentistry solutions for patients who may already be suffering from worn-down teeth or other dental damages associated with teeth grinding.
Custom Mouthguards for TMJ Treatment
Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Syndrome (TMJ) is a common condition affecting people of all ages. Often, people with a TMJ disorder experience frequent jaw pain, tension headaches, or earaches. These symptoms may indicate that something is off about your dental health. Patients with a history of teeth grinding are likely to develop a TMJ disorder. Additionally, patients with an unaligned bite pattern may also be more at risk for developing these symptoms. Anything that puts additional strain on your jaw joints and facial muscles is likely to lead to a TMJ disorder. Hires Dental Care offers several TMJ therapy treatment options for patients diagnosed with TMJ, including oral appliance therapy, or the use of a mouthguard to hold your jaw in a healthier resting position as you sleep. Often, this conservative treatment can address symptoms and help restore your oral health and wellness by preventing teeth grinding and jaw clenching.
If you are in need of a custom mouthguard, schedule an appointment with Hires Dental Care today.
