Nightguards or Occlusal guard

Cosmetic Dentistry Solutions

Some people wake up in the morning with a dull headache or jaw pain. This can be caused by bruxism - the habit of unconsciously grinding your teeth while sleeping. Beverly Hills dentist, Dr. Kourosh Maddahi, has successfully assisted numerous patients in the treatment of bruxism.

Bruxism is a habit that is not only painful to the patient, but it may be annoying to one's partner when he or she hears the grinding or chomping of teeth throughout the night. Beyond the head or jaw pain often caused by bruxism, damage may be caused to the teeth by the constant grinding: cracks, fissures, chipping, weakening and removal of protective tooth enamel that can lead to increased sensitivity to cold and heat.

Before and After Video and Photo Gallery...

You may be wondering what causes bruxism. Although at this point in time the exact cause hasn't been determinately discovered, it is generally believed to have a few causes: stress, poor tooth positioning and sleep trouble. There are many solutions that can be considered to handle bruxism. Stress reduction, such as walks before bed, warm baths, etc. are workable options. Another solution depending on a patient's situation may be tooth reshaping to make them fit together better.

An option many patients consider to keep their teeth safe from the tooth damage caused by grinding is called an occlusal guard, or a nightguard. A nightguard is shaped by a dentist so it fits most comfortably. It is placed on one jaw – generally the bottom - and it acts a protective layer between the two sets of teeth. Nightguards look similar to mouthguards, but are much less bulky and act only as protection for grinding. It is a good idea to use a nightguard to avoid major, permanent damage to one's teeth that is often associated with bruxism.