7 Common Dental Night Guard Questions- Answered!

Q: How do I know if I need a dental night guard?

A: Teeth-grinding is a common problem that might be new, or something you have been doing your whole life. Many people don’t even realize they’ve been grinding their teeth until their symptoms become problematic. If you have any of the following, it’s time to make an appointment to see your dentist to determine whether you may need a night guard:

• You wake up with a headache, or pain in your teeth, jaw, ears, or face.
• You hear clicking or popping when you talk or chew.
• You have visible signs of tooth wear, such as flat, uneven, chipped, or cracked teeth.
• Someone tells you they can hear you grinding your teeth at night. Teeth-grinding can be intense and loud enough for others to hear, or even wake them up.
• Sometimes, grinding your teeth can cause earaches, or ringing in your ears.

Q: Will a dental night guard fix my teeth-grinding?

A: Bruxism, also known as tooth-grinding, has many different causes and cannot be cured by wearing a dental night guard. It will, however, alleviate painful symptoms and protect your teeth from the damaging effects of grinding.

Q: Are dental night guards comfortable?

A: While it usually takes time to become adjusted to wearing a dental night guard, it is common for patients to love wearing their night guard so much that they can’t sleep without it and even wear it during parts of the day.

Q: How long do dental night guards last?

A: Custom night guards from your dentist are made out of medical-grade, durable material and will last much longer than the kind you can buy online or at the pharmacy. But like most things, this also depends on factors such as how much wear is placed on it. Patients that grind very heavily every night may have to replace their dental night guard as often as every year or two. For patients who don’t grind with lighter frequency or force, a dental night guard can last over 10 years. Once patients start to see how much force they have been putting on their teeth, even those who need more frequent replacement do it happily in order to maintain the benefits they’ve been experiencing.

Q: Are there alternatives to wearing a dental night guard?

A: While wearing a night guard is the easiest and most common treatment for bruxism (teeth-grinding), the dentist can also recommend other treatments including teeth straightening, and stress-prevention measures, dietary changes, acupuncture, and physical therapy.

Q: Are dental night guards made for both the upper and lower jaw?

A: There are several different ways to fabricate a dental night guard, including those made for just the upper, just the lower, or both. One of the reasons it is important to consult with your dentist about which type is because they will take into account other dental considerations, including dental restorations, tongue restrictions, patient preference, etc.

Q: Will my dental insurance pay for a dental night guard?

A: While many insurances will pay for this expense when photos and documentation from the dentist can prove there is a need, it depends entirely upon your individual dental insurance plan/coverage.

For more information about this, contact your dental insurance company or your best patient-focused dentist in Las Vegas for help.