Occlusal/Night Guard Birmingham, AL
Do you ever wake up with sore facial muscles? Do you have sensitive teeth even though you never had any major dental work and have good oral hygiene habits? Do you have frequent headaches or sore jaws? If you have answered yes to any of these questions, then you might be grinding or clenching your teeth.
Scientifically, the abnormal grinding and clenching of teeth is called Bruxism. Bruxism usually happens in a subconscious state – either awake or asleep.
Why do I clench or grind my teeth? What are the causes of bruxism?
- One of the most common causes is stress and anxiety
- Cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption
- Studies have shown sleep apnea and snoring to be one of the causes.
- Malocclusion or improper bite are just to name a few.
What can I do about my bruxism? Will I ever stop doing that?
While it may be difficult for you to completely stop bruxism, you can definitely work toward reducing the factors that might cause bruxism like working of areas that are causing stress or reducing cigarettes/alcohol etc. Also, you can use a night guard or occlusal guard to minimize the damage caused to the teeth and the joints.
What is a night guard made up of?
Night guard is made up of high grade plastic that covers the top of your teeth. At Comfort Plus Family Dental, we will advise you to start with a soft night guard. It is very easy for you to get used to. After a certain time, we will gradually increase the strength and thickness of the plastic material to best suit your needs.
How does a night guard work?
A night guard helps you in 3 different ways.
- Firstly, it covers the occlusal or the biting surface of teeth( hence the name occlusal guard) and reduces the damage to teeth. The teeth are not rubbing against each other but are against a thick piece of plastic.
- Secondly, it minimizes the pressure or force on your jaw because the teeth are no longer in contact since the occlusal guard is in place.
- Thirdly, it helps alleviate the soreness in the jaws and relaxes the muscles, thus reducing the headaches.
How much does an occlusal guard cost? Does my insurance pay for it?
The cost of an occlusal guard can vary quite a bit depending on several factors such as the thickness of the plastic, the firmness of the material and any other special accommodations that need to be made for you to achieve maximum relief. Most insurance companies do not pay for the treatment however at Comfort Plus Family Dental, our financial coordinator does include a very descriptive narrative explaining your insurance company why you need an occlusal guard.
If my insurance company does not pay for it, can I buy one that is available over the counter?
You sure can buy the occlusal guard from one of the major stores. However since they are one size fits all kind, the fit will be compromised causing inconvenience to you. The inconvenience will soon turn into non-compliance which in turn will result in further damage to your teeth and jaws. We custom make the occlusal guard just for you which guarantees a great fit and is comfortable to wear.
At Birmingham’s Comfort Plus Family Dental, we are pleased to offer custom sports mouth guard services. Thank you for considering us for this important dental procedure. We hope you find information on this page helpful. Our approach to dentistry is to provide you with available option through patient education. Should you have any questions or need to schedule a free consultation, call our friendly staff at 205.833.5404, we look forward to helping you.
Should you have any questions call us today, thank you for considering us for your and your family’s dental needs, we look forward to serving you.