Dentists recommend the use of mouth guards to prevent dental abrasion from teeth grinding, relieve painful symptoms of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder and prevent oral injury from physical contact activities.
Mouth Guard Function
Whether they are worn for dental protection during sporting activities or to alleviate unhealthy dental conditions, mouth guards are designed to realign facial and jaw muscles. At our clinic we strive to meet the needs of each individual for personalised mouth guard fit and function.
Through digital imaging patient-specific mouth guards are created to precisely suit the individual’s oral dimensions for healthy muscle function and protection. How mouth guards are positioned within the mouth impacts muscle contraction and relaxation.
Mouth Guards for Sport
Sports persons may benefit from custom-made mouth guards to protect their teeth from damage during sporting activities, particularly in cases of contact sport. We assess the needs of each individual and provide them with choices in mouth guards.
Mouth guards used in sport prevent oral trauma and dental damage, shielding the upper and lower teeth during impact. Wearing a sports mouth guard protects the outer tooth enamel surface from wear, which may otherwise expose the inner dentin and dental pulp to sensitivity and infection.
Tooth fracture and breakage may occur when teeth of the upper and lower arch clash or if oral injury occurs during a sporting activity. The sports guard is designed to reduce risk of injury and dental damage. Mouth guards are made bespoke for the specific type of sport played, such as boxing, rugby, cricket and hockey.
All mouth guards are quality-tested, removable and made for comfortable fit, wear and ease of cleaning. We use cutting-edge technology for precise mouth guard design to enhance sporting performance.
Mouth Guards for Bruxism or Teeth Grinding
Depending on the individual’s diagnosis and needs, mouth guards may treat teeth grinding or bruxism conditions where tooth contact wears down and exposes the dentin. Teeth may then become increasingly sensitive to temperature changes and be at risk of decay and infection.
Mouth guards protect teeth from enamel-wear and preserve oral health. Night mouth guards are designed to be worn during sleep when teeth grinding occurs, or may be worn during the day to prevent the habit if caused by anxiety.
Dentists may refer patients for treatment of the underlying cause of bruxism while providing mouth guard treatment.
Benefits of Mouth Guards
Mouth guards not only intended to protect dental structures from damage, but they also relieve painful symptoms caused by teeth grinding and TMJ. Jaw, facial, head and neck pain may cause tiredness and feelings of discontent. Mouth guards alleviate this pain and provide individuals with more comfort, energy and positive feelings.
Sports people in particular need to feel energetic for competitive edge and endurance during games. Sport mouth guard treatment provides greater relaxation, comfort and safety for sports people to excel.
Dental damage from contact sports, teeth grinding and TMJ may lead to irregular orthodontic conditions, such as improper bite or malocclusion, oral infection and disease, or even tooth loss. Mouth guards serve to preserve existing teeth structure and reduce the risk of developing unhealthy dental conditions.
Mouth guards may be used with other dentistry treatments and can be designed to be worn over dental braces to protect the orthodontic device. Certain orthodontic dental shields such as those provided by Invisalign may also protect teeth from contact and wear.
Mouth Guards for Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Disorder
Mouth guards are also used to treat individuals with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder. Individuals with TMJ experience jaw pain that may extend to the face, head and neck. The pain is caused by overexertion of connecting muscles.
Mouth guards, such as the Pure Power Mouth Guard, allow these muscles to relax by relieving painful facial, head, jaw and neck symptoms for normal jaw and joint function. TMJ often triggers headaches and migraines. Mouth guards relax muscles preventing headaches and migraine development.
Mouth guards are not a suitable treatment for all dental conditions. For example, individuals with loose teeth may benefit more from alternative treatment and those with numerous missing teeth may not be able to wear a mouth guard. This is due to a lack of dental structure to support the mouth guard for proper fit and function.
Individuals with oral disease or infection may not be suitable candidates for mouth guards, particularly if wear of a mouth guard stimulates bacterial growth.
Damaged mouth guards may cause oral trauma and it is important to immediately contact the dentist if mouth guard damage occurs for professional repair or replacement. Not wearing a mouth guard according to recommended guidelines or manufacturer instructions may lead to oral trauma.
The clinician assesses the individual’s need for suitable mouth guard treatment. Mouth guards are custom-designed for individuals to enhance their oral health and jaw function. Choices in mouth guard treatments are available and adaptable to the needs of different people.