Protecting (And Preserving) Your Smile With a Custom Mouthguard
September 16, 2020
We often help address multiple oral health concerns, and even safeguard teeth against injury, with a custom mouthguard. In today’s blog, your Kansas City, MO, dentist will explain how a comfortable and custom-made oral appliance could provide treatment for issues like TMJ disorder and bruxism (chronic teeth grinding), and also lower the risk of chipped or cracked teeth for those playing sports!
Creating a Custom Oral Appliance
Our custom-made options provide a better fit and a greater level of protection than boil-and-bite alternatives available at sporting goods stores. We start by taking a detailed impressions and measurements of your smile, which enable us to design and fabricate them with better precision and accuracy. We may use them to keep teeth safe from injury, or to treat common oral health issues like TMJ disorder or bruxism!
TMJ Disorder and Bruxism Relief
TMJ disorder means the jaw joints undergo excessive strain, which could make opening and closing the mouth difficult. TMJ disorder could lead to pain in the face, jaw, neck, and shoulders, as well as headaches and migraines and a popping or clicking sensation in the jaw. Bruxism, or chronic teeth grinding, could put pressure on the teeth, wearing down enamel and even cracking and chipping them, leading to higher risks of cavities and infection. This disorder also leads to headaches, migraines, and jaw and facial pain. Untreated TMJ issues could lead to bruxism, and vice versa, and both issues could be caused by stress, bite imbalance, tooth loss, misalignment, or injury to the face or jaw.
An oral appliance will be worn at night, repositioning the jaw to ease the strain on the jaw joints. The appliance also places a barrier between the upper and lower sets of teeth to prevent further damage.
Preventing Dental Damage
We also create a mouthguard that is worn as you play sports and other activities that could potentially crack, chip, or knock loose a tooth. You help prevent injuries and minor injuries that could lead to cavities. If you have any questions about how we create a custom-made oral appliance, or if you want to schedule a consultation to see if you have any TMJ issues or teeth grinding damage, then contact our team today. We want to help you enjoy your healthiest smile, and avoid discomfort and damaged teeth!
Do You Have Questions About Our Treatment Options?
We want to help safeguard your smile from painful symptoms and lower the risk of injury with a custom-made oral appliance. To learn more about our approach treating jaw joint strain and preventing injury, or about how we repair damaged teeth, then schedule a consultation by calling Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry of Kansas City, MO, today at 816-427-4018.