Nightguards

If you experience overnight clenching and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) symptoms, OneSource Dental of South Tampa offers custom-fit solutions to ease your pain. The dental experts provide nightguards to maximize the longevity of your teeth at the Tampa, Florida, office. Call the office today to schedule a custom fitting or book online through the reservation system.

What are nightguards?

Sometimes called mouthguards or occlusal guards, this protective treatment helps reduce common wear and tear you may experience. It’s called an occlusal guard because the equipment covers the biting surface of teeth to prevent damage.

What are the benefits of nightguards?

There are several ways night guards protect your teeth from damage. Many people experience a clenching and grinding of their teeth during sleep, known as bruxism. Over time, bruxism strains the jaw and may lead to chipped or cracked teeth. Nightguards prevent this by firmly holding the teeth in place with a protective cushion layer. 

Nightguards also reduce TMJ pain and symptoms. The constant tension from clenching teeth stresses the surrounding jaw muscles and joints. This may lead to feelings of soreness and discomfort accompanied by clicking sounds. 

TMJ makes essential jaw functions difficult. By supporting your jaw with a softer surface, nightguards help protect you from symptoms related to TMJ.

Nightguards also reduce secondary symptoms of severe clenching, such as headaches, earaches, and ringing in the ears.

How are nightguards customized?

The OneSource Dental of South Tampa experts create a custom solution by taking precise impressions of your teeth. Doing so allows the team to develop a preliminary guard for either your top or bottom teeth. They make adjustments to ensure a snug and comfortable fit.

Over-the-counter nightguards purchased from convenience stores may provide fits that are too tight or too loose. It’s essential to have a custom-fitting nightguard to prevent worsening pain and TMJ symptoms. For this reason, it’s best to let dental experts at OneSource Dental of South Tampa create nightguards for you.

What types of nightguards are available?

There are many materials used in nightguards to address your specific needs. Softer options use rubber composites to treat mild cases of overnight clenching. People more prone to grinding their teeth may benefit from dual laminate nightguard options, which provide a more durable outer surface to protect teeth.

People experiencing severe TMJ or bruxism can benefit from nightguards made from highly durable materials, such as acrylic-based nightguards.

Discover your nightguard options at the Miami, Florida, office by calling to schedule an appointment or booking through the online portal.