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Manassas Family Dentist

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8725 Digges Road Manassas, VA 20110
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Night Guards – ARK Dental

Posted on: 07.29.16 By Nandini Malghan

Night Guard

If you’re experiencing chronic headaches and migraines by involuntary night-time teeth clenching, let Dentists at ARK Dental Manassas help you with a dental night guard. A dental night guard is a thin transparent device that is worn over the biting surface of your teeth while you sleep to prevent contact between the upper and lower teeth.

Facts About Grinding Your Teeth

  • Tooth enamel that is subjected to normal stresses wears down at the rate of .3 millimeters every 10 ten years
  • It is possible for those prone to teeth grinders to experience two millimeters of enamel erosion by their mid-twenties.
  • Nighttime grinding can occur as often as 40 minutes for every hour of sleep, producing up to 250 pounds of force per square inch.
  • That’s enough pressure to crack a walnut!

Note: Just like regular teeth your dentures are subjected to the same stress of teeth grinding.

What Happens If I Grind My Teeth and Don’t Wear a Night Guard?

Bruxism (pronounced BRUK-sizm) is the medical term for forceful clenching and/or grinding of your teeth. It is considered a major cause of tooth problems. Some patients will say that they notice signs of wear, but it is not just a cosmetic problem (although worn down teeth can age you as bad if not worse than wrinkled skin).

  • The action of grinding- where your upper and lower teeth move back and forth with great force against each other- causes your teeth to flatten.
  • Allowed to persist, grinding causes temperature sensitivity, pain because the wear gets down to the nerve, cracks in the teeth, receding gums and eventually lost teeth.
  • To fix these, patients will need crowns, bridges, veneers, implants, extractions, & root canals.
  • Grinding can also cause migraine headaches and pain in the shoulders, neck, back and ears.

Causes of Teeth Grinding or Jaw Clenching

  • Stress. Increased anxiety or stress can lead to teeth grinding. So can anger and frustration.
  • Age, surprisingly it is common in young children, but it usually goes away by the teen years.
  • Stimulating substances. Smoking tobacco, drinking caffeinated beverages or alcohol, or taking illegal drugs such as methamphetamine or Ecstasy may increase your risk of grinding your teeth.
  • Abnormal alignment of upper and lower teeth.
  • Other sleep problems, such as sleep apnea.
  • Response to pain from an earache or teething (in children).
  • Stomach acid reflux into the esophagus.
  • Complication resulting from a disorder such as Huntington’s disease or Parkinson’s disease.

The Dental Night Guard Fitting Process

  • Impressions are taken of your upper and lower teeth to confirm an accurate fit
  • Using your impressions as a mold, the dental night guard is crafted out of strong, durable plastic
  • When the dental night guard is finished, it is properly fitted to your mouth
  • Simply wear the dental night guard while you sleep every night

Call us today to schedule a free consultation if you have any symptoms and would like more details about night guards at 703.368.5595.

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