Night Guards at Torgersen Dental, Camarillo & Simi Valley

Many people are grinding their teeth while sleeping. This causes excessive wear on teeth and contributes to cavities and cracks. We can protect your teeth with a night guard, a device which places a protective barrier between the top and bottom teeth.

A night guard, sometimes spelled "nightguard," is a piece of hard / soft plastic or silicone molded (in some cases) to fit the shape of your teeth. Its purpose is to keep teeth from grinding into one another. People wear night guards at night while sleeping and take them out in the morning.

A night guard is also a popular treatment for TMJ, or temporomandibular joint disorder. Night guards are sometimes used in place of a retainer, because a night guard also keeps the teeth in place as well as prevents grinding and clenching. Night guards are a well-known treatment for bruxism, otherwise known as tooth grinding and jaw clenching.

Types of Night Guards

There are several types of night guards on the market. Most of them can be placed into one of two categories: hard night guards and soft night guards. Hard night guards are usually made of a hard acrylic or another hard plastic substance that is virtually unbreakable. Soft night guards are usually made of silicone or another malleable plastic, and tend to be mushy or squishy when placed between the teeth.

Recommendations

If you would like a highly effective night guard that fits perfectly, ask Dr. Trent and Gina Torgersen for a custom fit. Many soft night guards are available over-the-counter at drugstores and grocery stores but may not fit as accurately as a custom fitted night guard. Determining the right night guard for you depends on how normal or abnormal your bite is. Night guards that are comfortable and recommended for some may not be comfortable for others who have a different bite and teeth alignment.

Call for your appointment today!