How Night Guards are Helping in the post-COVID era?

Night Guards

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented changes to our lives. And oral health is no exception. The outbreak is causing a lot of stress for people in general. With increased stress and anxiety, many people are experiencing unexpected side effects like bruxism, or teeth grinding, which can lead to a lot of dental problems.

What is Bruxism?

Bruxism is a condition in which people unconsciously clench or grind their teeth, often during sleep. However, bruxism might happen during the daytime as well. Bruxism exerts several hours of force on the teeth, which can quickly cause significant damage to all of your teeth. And to protect your teeth from the damaging effects of bruxism, nightguards (bruxism appliances) can be of great help.

How can night guards help?

Nightguards are designed to be worn during sleep. They can be of various types, such as prefabricated or custom-made. The night guards we offer are custom-fit to each person’s bite and provide a barrier between your upper and lower set of teeth, preventing them from grinding against each other.
The stress described above can cause bruxism, or teeth grinding and clenching that lead to TMJ pain and muscle soreness. This can eventually affect a person’s ability to eat and cause some sleep disturbances as well. Occlusal guards or bruxism appliances are considered a conservative approach to managing bruxism and protecting overall oral health during those stressful times.

Managing your stress is important.

As per our expert dentist, Dr. Shelly Bajaj, the most effective way to manage your anxiety is to de-stress. If a patient cannot find effective ways to de-stress, medical intervention may be necessary. If you’ve been waking up in the morning with an ache in your jaw muscles or your teeth, you might be suffering from bruxism.
Aside from this, if you are experiencing other symptoms of bruxism, such as headaches, or sensitive teeth, talk to your dentist about the benefits of a night guard and how they can help protect your smile.

How can I get night guards to protect my smile?

To ensure that you get a comfortable, well-fitting occlusal guard, our expert dentists at Royal East Dental perform some critical steps that will improve the overall outcome.

To help you understand, we’ve included the bite appliance workflow below. These steps need to be followed to create an excellently fitting bite guard specifically designed for your smile.

• Using a custom tray that fits properly in your mouth. 
• Using polyether or polyvinyl impression material
• Using an adhesive so that impression won’t separate from the impression tray.
• Taking a bite from the patient’s mouth either with Lucia Jig or George Gauge
• Recording the horizontal plane accurately for reference by using a face bow

At Royal East Dental, our dentists use the Trios-3 shape digital scanner to take digital impressions for making night guards specifically designed for you. You will get 3-D-printed custom night guards and nylon night guards that are exclusive to Royal East Dental.

Don’t let COVID-19 take a toll on your smile:

Do not let stress and anxiety harm your oral health. Consider a night guard, an easy and effective appliance to protect your smile.

FAQs

How much do these night guards cost?

The cost of a night guard can vary based on its quality. Our 3D-printed, superior-quality night guards cost around $250 to $600. However, with insurance, it will only be $0 to $200 out of pocket. Our computer-designed mouthguard fits your teeth perfectly. Plus, these are durable and last for years, not months, compared to over-the-counter night guards.
By wearing a night guard, you can keep your smile healthy even in the face of challenges posed by COVID-19.

How can I clean my night guards?

Regular care is necessary to maintain its optimal condition and increase its durability. Using a toothbrush and toothpaste or even rinsing with simple water after every use can do the job. Rinsing and soaking with hydrogen peroxide periodically is also recommended.

“Wearing night guards is painful.” What should I do?

Some patients do feel a bit of discomfort at first. However, once your mouth gets used to it, you will not even feel that you are wearing one.

Can I wear night guards during the daytime?

Yes, if you have severe teeth grinding and clenching, wearing night guards during the day is advised. This will protect your teeth from further damage.