Journal, Treatment
Night guards: who actually needs one
They are prescribed far more often than they are needed. Three signs that yours would earn its keep, and three that it would not.
Night guards are one of the most over-prescribed appliances in general dentistry. They are also, for the right person, genuinely protective. The difficulty is that the two groups look similar from the outside.
Three signs it would earn its keep
- Flat, matched wear facets. Not chipped edges, flat planes that meet exactly when you slide your jaw sideways. That is grinding, and it is mechanical, and a guard takes the load.
- Morning jaw fatigue that fades by ten. A dull ache in the masseter on waking, gone by mid-morning, is close to diagnostic.
- You have just spent money on ceramics. Porcelain does not forgive. If you have veneers or several crowns, a guard is cheap insurance regardless of how hard you grind.
Three signs it would not
- Chips on the front edges only. That is usually diet and habit (ice, pens, fingernails), and a guard worn at night does nothing about a habit at noon.
- Your partner hears grinding but you have no wear. Sound is a poor proxy. We look at the teeth.
- Headaches without any jaw signs. There are many causes and most of them are not dental. We will say so rather than sell you an appliance on a hunch.
If you already own a guard and never wear it, the reason is almost always fit. Bring it in. We can often adjust an existing one in ten minutes rather than make a new one.
Hard, soft, or dual
Soft guards are comfortable and, for a real grinder, actively unhelpful, they give the muscles something to chew against and can increase activity. Hard acrylic is what we make for grinding. Soft is fine for clenching without lateral movement, and for children.
We mill ours upstairs from a digital scan, usually two days. No impression putty, and if it needs adjusting in month two, that is included.
Written by the clinical team at Roanlight Dental. General information only. It is not a substitute for an examination. Call (503) 555-0118 if something hurts.
