Bruxism Splints and Mouth Guards
You may need to wear a mouth guard or a mouth splint at night. These devices prevent tooth movement by evening out the pressure in your mouth.
A mouth guard or splint also creates a physical barrier between your upper and lower teeth to protect them from further damage. They also help reduce any grinding noises that you make at night.
A mouth splint (also known as an occlusal splint or bite plate) is made from harder plastic and fits precisely over your upper or lower teeth. A splint will usually be more expensive than a mouth guard.
Mouth guards and mouth splints may help reduce muscle activity in your jaw at night. However, they will only be able to control the condition, not cure it.
Mandibular Advancement Devices To Treat Your Bruxism
Mandibular advancement devices (MADs) are usually used to help manage sleep problems, such as obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and snoring. Research has shown that they can also be effective for treating sleep bruxism.
The device consists of two mouth guards (one for the top teeth and one for the bottom teeth) that are welded together. It is worn in your mouth at night and holds your bottom jaw forward and closed while you are asleep.
MADs have been shown to significantly reduce the amount of bruxism activity when worn at night. However, they may be more painful to wear than mouth guards or splints.
To experience the difference of bruxism splints – provided to you by our Carlsbad office – we welcome you to call 760-434-3103 or schedule your initial consultation via our website today. The Carlsbad Village Dentistry team looks forward to helping keep your teeth and jaw safe as you deal with the underlying causes of your bruxism!
