Night Guards in Santa Monica, CA
A night guard, or occlusal guard, is indicated for people who grind their teeth, most commonly at night while sleeping, or who have mild TMD (temporomandibular dysfunction).
What A Night Guard Does
A guard protects your teeth and TMJ (temporomandibular joint) from premature wear by decreasing cumulative bite force and providing a protective barrier to future deterioration. Other over-the-counter options are available for clenchers.
Our office typically fabricates a maxillary talon-type night guard with disclusion ramps. We are able to fabricate most types of appliances and have knowledge of how and when to apply them.
The Process Of Making Custom Night Guards in Santa Monica
The turnaround time for night guards is around 2 weeks.
We take upper and lower bite impressions. The laboratory pre-adjusts your guard so we can ensure a proper fit when we deliver it in our office.
Frequently Asked Questions
Your dentist may recommend a custom night guard if you grind and clench your teeth or have jaw joint (TMJ) dysfunction and pain. Teeth grinding and clenching, known as bruxism, is a habit many people have. Over time, bruxism can wear down your teeth, damage your enamel, and even hurt your TMJ.
A night guard looks like teeth whitening trays, and they’re slender and comfortable but highly durable. The trays sit over the teeth and provide a barrier, protecting your teeth from grinding or clenching.
Common Bruxism Symptoms
Common signs and symptoms associated with bruxism and TMJ problems are:
- Pain or tenderness in the jaws, face, neck, or shoulders
- Migraines or headaches
- Dental wear
- Disrupted sleep
- Pain or ringing in the ears
- Difficulty or pain while chewing or opening and closing your mouth
- Lockjaw
- Popping and clicking in the jaw joints
Bruxism and TMJ can go hand-in-hand, but your dentist can provide you with the exceptional dentistry you need to reduce symptoms and enhance comfort.
Untreated bruxism and TMJ issues can diminish one’s quality of life because they can affect daily activities, such as eating, speaking, yawning, and sleeping.
Do You Need a Custom Night Guard in Santa Monica?
Vision Dental Montana offers custom night guards to help with bruxism and TMJ pain. If you have a bruxism habit or TMD, please get in touch with us today to schedule a consultation with our team.
Meet Our Doctors:
Dr. Nicole Cheng DDS, MS
Orthodontist
College : UCLA Biochemistry
Dental School : USC School of Dentistry
Graduate School : UCLA Section of Oral Biology
Orthodontic Residency : UCLA School of Dentistry, Section of Orthodontics
Dr. Nicole ...
Dr. Andrew Huynh DDS
Pediatric Dentist
College: UCSD Biochemistry and Psychology Dual Degree
Dental School: UCLA School of Dentistry
Pediatric Dental Residency: Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital
Dr. Andrew Huynh is a board-certified specialist ...
Dr. Will Cheng DDS, MS
General Dentist
College : UCLA Biology
Dental School : UCLA School of Dentistry
Graduate School : UCLA Section of Oral Biology
Dr. William J. Cheng is co-founder and president of Vision Dental. He ...
Dr. Rogelio Garcia DDS
General Dentist
College: UCLA Biology
Dental School: UCLA School of Dentistry
Dr. Rogelio “Roger” Garcia is the co-founder of Vision Dental. Dr. Garcia stays active and current in dentistry through his professional memberships ...
Dr. John Gonzalez DDS
Dentist
College: UCSB
Dental School: UCLA School of Dentistry
John Gonzalez, D.D.S., grew up in Malibu. He went to the University of California, Santa Barbara and dental school at the University of ...