If you suffer from temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder or you chronically grind or clench your teeth, then a night guard might be just the thing you need to prevent serious damage to your oral health. At Century City Smiles & Orthodontics in Century City, California, Shawn Saidian, DDS, and Tania Ohebsion, DDS, provide night guards to their patients in Los Angeles. Schedule a visit to state-of-the-art clinic today by calling the office or booking online, and start protecting your smile with a night guard today.
Book OnlineA night guard is a removable oral device that’s designed to protect your smile. It’s custom-built from an impression of your mouth, so it fits snugly on your teeth, and it’s made from smooth and flexible plastic, so it rests comfortably in your mouth.
You wear your night guard while you’re sleeping to give your teeth and mouth extra protection from any conditions you may have.
What conditions does a night guard treat?
The team at Century City Smiles & Orthodontics can prescribe a night guard for a variety of conditions, such as to treat bruxism and TMJ.
Bruxism
Bruxism is a condition where you habitually grind or clench your teeth, most often during the night while you sleep. It has a number of causes, including sleep disorders, an abnormal bite, and stress and anxiety, and it can lead to a variety of oral health concerns, like:
- Headaches
- Pain in your jaw
- Worn-down teeth
- Cracks, chips, or fractures in your teeth
- Loose teeth or teeth falling out
While wearing a night guard won’t stop you from actually grinding your teeth, it does mitigate the damage that bruxism causes.
By putting a soft and flexible piece of plastic between your teeth, a night guard prevents your teeth from grinding up against one another, which minimizes the negative effects of the condition.
TMJ disorder
Your temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the joint that connects your skull and your lower jawbone. TMJ disorder is a condition that impairs the proper functioning of that joint. It can cause pain and tenderness in your jaw and face, and make it difficult to fully open and/or close your mouth.
In many cases, TMJ disorder is caused or aggravated by bruxism. By providing you with a night guard, your dentist can reduce the damage caused by your bruxism and alleviate some of the symptoms of your TMJ disorder.
How do I get a night guard?
Getting a night guard is a quick, easy, and simple process. The team at Century City Smiles & Orthodontics takes an impression of your mouth and sends it off to a dental lab.
The lab then uses it as a blueprint to fabricate your night guard. Because the lab uses an impression of your unique smile, your night guard fits perfectly and comfortably in your mouth.
Schedule your appointment for a night guard at Century City Smiles & Orthodontics today by calling the office or booking an appointment online.