Nightguards
Keep your teeth and oral health in top condition by regular dental checkups
What is a Nightguard?
A nightguard, also called a mouth guard, bite plate or bite splint, anti-grinding device or bruxism appliance, is a transparent tray-like dental appliance that fits over the teeth biting surfaces. It is most commonly used to treat teeth clenching or teeth grinding habit at night. They cushion the tension exerted by the teeth and relax the jaw muscles, thereby relieving strain at the temporomandibular joints.
What is Bruxism?
Habit in which you grind your teeth or clench your jaws excessively, often associated with increased levels of stress and anxiety. Many individuals suffer from nighttime Bruxism in their sleep; hence they are usually unaware of the condition until symptoms arise. Bruxism can cause wear of the teeth and loss of tooth chewing surfaces. It can also contribute to developing a constant dull headache, jaw tenderness and soreness.
What is TMJ?
Temporo-mandibular Joint, it is the hinge joint which connects the jaw bone to the skull base. We can open and close our mouth, chew on things and speak because of the TMJ or commonly called the jaw joint, which is at either side of the head, just in front of the ear region. Temporo-mandibular disorders can cause soreness, pain, locking and popping of the joint, and restricted mouth opening.
If you are suffering from Bruxism or excessive jaw clenching habit, you should consider having a night guard designed for you.
First , our dentist will either take an impression(mould) or will take a digital scan of your teeth and surrounding gums. This will be sent to a specialist dental laboratory, where they will make the bruxism appliance according to your specific tooth measurements. The appliance is made of hard acrylic. You will have an appointment for fitting the nightguard and following that there will be at least one more visit for review and customising as needed.
Happy Patients
We always strive to ensure that all our patients leave us smiling
I loved the way Miriam treated me. She is a very friendly dentist and solved my problem without any hassle. I recommend her for any dental health needs. The receptionist also was quite proactive and warm.
Rajesh KashyapJanuary 8, 2021
Miriam Kenny truly is an exceptional dentist. Passionate about her work, honest in her assessment and faultless during procedure. Miriam goes above and beyond to ensure a smooth experience for all patients. The whole team are fantastic and I would highly recommend this practice.
Lauren WrightSeptember 28, 2018
NIGHTGUARDS - avoid tooth damage
Why are Nightguards Important?
Nightguards form a barrier between the upper and lower teeth and protect the teeth from getting worn down. Nightguards are also used by people with TMJ pain and (a different ,more specialised design) for sleep disorders like snoring and sleep apnoea.
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Practice Plan
frequently Asked Questions
Mouthguards should be worn every night before going to sleep. They protect the teeth from the grinding habit and relax the jaw muscles and allow the joint to sit in a more comfortable position, thereby easing the TMJ pain.
We recommend you clean your mouthguard every day, preferably immediately after taking it out of your mouth in the morning. Take a hard-bristled toothbrush, and use soap NOT toothpaste, brush all the mouthguard surfaces properly, especially where it fits up against natural teeth. Alternatively, you can get a denture cleaning solution and soak the mouth guard in it for ten to fifteen minutes. Then, rinse off all the soap with cold water. Never immerse your mouthguard in hot boiling water as this may disfigure it.
Our Nightguard is custom designed to provide a close fit at your upper teeth. It does fall out easily. It is NOT of a size that would be a choking hazard.
We do not recommend you fix your broken mouthguards yourselves with glue or other DIY materials. You could destroy the device’s fit or, worse, introduce a harmful toxic chemical in your mouth.
Bruxism or teeth grinding habit can be aggravated by stress, anxiety, and an incorrect bite. You can help control Bruxism by opting for a nightguard which separates your teeth while you sleep, and prevents your teeth from wearing down. Lifestyle factors like reducing stress may also help control your Bruxism.
A safe way to reduce the harm caused by grinding your teeth is to get a custom fit nightguard. These prevent your teeth from coming into contact and stop the teeth grinding habit. You can also try relaxing activities right before bedtime like taking a warm shower, holding a warm compress to your jaw, getting a head massage, avoiding stimulants like coffee and even practising mouth exercises during the day, to reduce stress.
Excessive teeth grinding or jaw clenching puts a strain on the jaw muscles and the jaw joint, located in the temple and ear region. This constant strain on the jaw muscles can result in a TMJ disorder; in which you might experience severe facial pain, jaw pain and ear pain.
You will know if you grind your teeth at night if you have a constant headache or dull pain near the ear region. Your teeth will show obvious signs of wear and temperature sensitivity. You may also have clicking or popping of your jaw joint.
Here’s what could happen if you leave your Bruxism untreated
- Extreme wear down of teeth
- Severe sensitivity to hot and cold
- Increased risk of tooth chipping or cracking
- Inflammation and soreness of jaw muscles
- Constant and severe facial and jaw pain
Miriam Kenny Morehampton Dental Practice
Your Trusted Dental Clinic
Our practice is based on providing a high standard of modern dentistry in a friendly, professional manner. It is our mission to help our patients maintain their teeth and a healthy mouth for their lifetime.
Our entire team is committed to this ideal. As a result, a high percentage of our business is from returning patients and referrals of their family and friends. We welcome and are grateful for these referrals.
It has been normal for a long time in modern dentistry to sterilise instruments after use and to clean and disinfect surfaces.
With the current Covid-19 pandemic we are paying particular attention to our normal cross-infection practices, but in addition, we are keeping the practice well ventilated (it may feel cold) and we use a special Fogging machine with Hypochlorous acid (HOCL) which is an all-natural antimicrobial agent made from salt and water by an electrolysis unit. Fogging of each surgery is carried out between patients after any treatment involving an aerosol.
To reduce aerosol production during procedures with the dentist we most often use a little device called a rubber dam —.50 this isolates the immediate teeth we are working with & protects the back of mouth. During hygienist treatment we are using an extra suction device outside of the mouth, this also reduces aerosol production.
We offer modern dentistry in a friendly professional caring environment.
The practice is owned & directed by Miriam Kenny and as the business owner and the principal healthcare professional, I am primarily interested in providing evidence-based dental healthcare. This means my priority is to help my dental patients to maintain their own natural teeth in a healthy mouth for their lifetime.
We can help improve your smile – we offer a range of options depending on what is most appropriate for you, from tooth whitening to composite bonding to ceramic veneers, crowns and bridges.
How Much do Dental Check-ups cost?
At Miriam Kenny Morehampton Dental Practice we aim to provide state of the art, quality affordable dental treatment to all.
It was with this in mind that we created our affordable dental plans, which helps us to keep your teeth, gums and oral health in tip-top shape.
With our Practice Plan, you will attend every 6 months with the hygienist and once yearly for your dental examination and have no fees to pay at these visits. The cost of these visits is covered by your monthly subscription – this is as low as €14.50 or €21, depending on whether you qualify for the “PRSI” benefit.
Other Treatments you may consider
We offer dental hygiene services like professional teeth cleaning and polishing to prevent buildup of plaque.
Large cavities, tooth fractures/cracks, and bacterial entry under old restorations/fillings all call for a root canal treatment to save the tooth from being extracted.
Severe tooth pain, injury to the face and/or mouth, a cracked tooth, a fallen out tooth, a tooth abscess or uncontrollable bleeding from the mouth; these are all dental emergencies that need to be taken care of at the earliest.