Mouth Guards
St. Joseph, Michigan
At Michigan Coast Dental, we offer night guards, sports dental guards, and retainers to maintain healthy, beautiful smiles. At first glance, they may look similar, but there are key differences, and each serves a different purpose. Here's all you need to know about our protective dental appliances and how they safeguard your oral health.
What Are Night Guards?
If you clench or grind your teeth in your sleep, a condition known as bruxism, you're at an increased risk of oral health problems, including uneven tooth wear, tooth pain, sensitivity, cracked or fractured teeth, and damaged restorations. Teeth grinders often experience sleep disruption, morning headaches, pain that feels like an earache, facial or jaw pain, and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder.
An oral night guard, also known as an occlusal guard, is a protective device worn over your teeth like a retainer. The teeth protector doesn't prevent teeth grinding and clenching. However, it shields the teeth and cushions them, preventing excessive wear and damage to your teeth and jaws.
What Are Sports Dental Guards?
Participating in high-impact sports can increase the risk of dental trauma or injury. Common sports-related dental injuries include soft tissue injury, cracked teeth, fractured tooth roots, knocked-out teeth, and tooth intrusion, meaning the tooth is driven back into the jawbone.
Anyone engaged in high-impact or contact sports should consider a sports mouth guard a necessary piece of athletic gear. The protective mouth guards significantly reduce injury to the teeth and soft tissues, including the lips, tongue, and gums. Studies show that athletes without protective sports dental guards are 60 times more likely to sustain dental injuries.
What Are Retainers?
At Michigan Coast Dental, we offer clear, removable retainers that you wear over your teeth to keep them in position after completing orthodontic treatment. That's because once you achieve your ideal smile, it takes time for the surrounding bone and tissue to adapt to the changes in tooth positioning. Wearing a retainer helps stabilize your bite and keeps your teeth from shifting back out of alignment. Unfortunately, we see many patients with relapses after orthodontic treatment due to neglecting the use of their retainers.
Can You Wear a Night Guard, Sports Dental Guard, or Retainer Interchangeably?
Night guards, sports dental guards, and retainers serve different purposes and can't be used interchangeably.
- Night guards typically cover the upper teeth with their chewing surfaces. They are made of a strong material that withstands the grinding and clenching forces, preventing damage to your teeth and jaws.
- Sports dental guards cover the tooth surfaces and extend under the gums. They are made from a thick, soft material that absorbs high-intensity shocks for maximum protection.
- Clear retainers are thin and don't offer protection from nighttime grinding and sports-related dental injuries. They are specifically designed to maintain the position of teeth after braces or clear aligner therapy, ensuring you maintain your new, straight smile.
Why Choose Custom Mouth Guards?
There are several over-the-counter mouth guard options available for purchase at your local sporting goods stores. Stock night guards or sports dental guards come in several pre-made sizes, ready to wear. However, they are usually bulky and rarely fit right. Boil and bite mouth guards can be somewhat customized by placing them in hot water and then molding them to your mouth. Unfortunately, they too rarely provide a proper fit and are usually bulky and uncomfortable.
Michigan Coast Dental offers custom mouth guards created from impressions of your teeth using cutting-edge technology and materials for the best fit, comfort, and protection. They are the best available mouth protectors, and your smile deserves nothing less!
Night Guards, Sports Dental Guards, and Clear Retainers Near Me in Saint Joseph, MI
If you want to learn more about safeguarding your smile with a custom night guard, sports dental guard, or clear retainers, contact Michigan Coast Dental for a consultation. Our team is committed to utilizing cutting-edge technology and techniques to provide the highest quality oral appliances for unmatched protection.
We invite you to contact our office at 269-428-4430 to schedule your appointment today!
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