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At Kite & Key Dentistry, Dr. Julia Winter specializes in building comfortable, protective night guards. We can treat a wide variety of conditions with night guards at our office, including TMJ, teeth grinding, and sleep apnea. Learn more below, or contact us now to schedule a consultation in Ridley Township.
Night guards can be used for a variety of different purposes. Most commonly, they are used to treat teeth grinding (bruxism), an uncontrollable clenching and gnashing of the teeth, often at night. This is usually related to stress, but the exact cause of grinding is unknown.
In addition, night guards may be used to treat temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), which is a painful dysfunction of the small joints that attach your jaw bone to your skull. TMJ can be caused by things like jaw overuse, trauma to the jaw, a poor bite alignment, or excessive teeth grinding.
At Kite & Key Dentistry, we also offer mouthguards for sleep apnea, which is a common sleep disorder that may cause frequent interruptions in your breathing at night, often for 10 seconds or longer. These are a great alternative to other treatments like a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine.
The most common signs of TMJ are pain in your jaw, headaches, jaw stiffness and soreness, and jaw clicking, popping, or locking. You also may notice aching, radiating pain near your ears. If you notice these issues, you may need a night guard for TMJ.
Sleep apnea also has some very obvious symptoms. The most common is loud snoring accompanied with interruptions in breathing. After these interruptions, you may wake up with a gasping or choking sensation. Sleep apnea can also cause daytime drowsiness, irritability, insomnia, and poor quality sleep. Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT) with a night guard may be a good option if you have minor-to-moderate apnea.
Bruxism (teeth grinding) may be harder to notice. Your sleeping partner may hear you grinding your teeth, or your teeth may feel sore and sensitive when you wake up. Dr. Winter may also notice abnormal wear & tear during your six-month visits to Kite & Key Dentistry. A night guard is the best way to reduce the severity and effects of teeth grinding.
Night guards serve a variety of different purposes. For sleep apnea and TMJ, they adjust the position of your mouth to ensure you can breathe properly at night, or to reduce strain on your jaw joints to allow them to heal. And for teeth grinding (bruxism), night guards are a great way to prevent damage and premature wear & tear from affecting your smile.
So if you suffer from TMJ, sleep apnea, or teeth grinding, don’t wait. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Winter right away to learn more about custom night guards and how they can help protect your smile and improve your oral health in Ridley Township.
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