Night Guards in Manhattan, NY

Teeth grinding, also known as bruxism, affects over 10 – 15% of adults and can cause jaw pain, headaches, tooth pain, swelling, and other symptoms. Over time, teeth grinding can damage the teeth and cause expensive dental problems. High-quality, custom night guards can be made at a dental laboratory from impressions taken at Cosmetic Dental Studios in Midtown Manhattan with cosmetic and general dentist, Dr. Victoria Veytsman. A custom-made night guard helps patients who grind their teeth or clench their jaw while sleeping so they can sleep better while protecting their teeth and jaw.

Custom-made night guards produced by Dr. Victoria Veytsman and the team at Cosmetic Dental Studios are a great way to halt existing teeth grinding and alleviate the symptoms associated with bruxism. Benefits of night guards include:

• Specialized for your mouth only
• Minimizing tooth and jaw pain or strain
• Alleviating headaches caused by teeth grinding
• Improving quality and length of sleep
• Reducing or preventing snorting
• Made from high-quality materials
• Long-lasting, with better protection and effectiveness than store-bought options

Several indicators may suggest that you are clenching your jaw and/or grinding your teeth at night and would therefore be a suitable candidate for a night guard. You may wake up with tightness and pain in your jaw or a headache and swelling in your lower face. Other indicators include loosened fillings or teeth, worn-down enamel on your back teeth, tooth sensitivity, and a receding gumline. Teeth grinding and jaw clenching at night are usually caused by stress, but they may also be brought on by allergies, misaligned teeth, a sleep disorder, or temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). When Dr. Veytsman makes your bruxism diagnosis, she will also try to determine the cause so your night guard can be coupled with another treatment for optimal outcomes.

Once the patient decides to get a night guard, they will schedule an appointment at Cosmetic Dental Studios to have impressions of the upper and lower teeth made. The impressions will be sent to a dental laboratory where a custom-fit night guard will be crafted for the patient. Once the night guard is returned to Cosmetic Dental Studios, the patient will come in to have their night guard fitted by Dr. Veytsman.

The night guard can last for several years with proper home care. The patient should clean the mouth guard before and after each use. Depending on the type of material used when making the mouth guard, Dr. Veytsman will give the patient more specific care instructions. Patients should bring their night guard to all future dental appointments at Cosmetic Dental Studios so Dr. Veytsman can check for general wear and decide when it needs to be replaced.

Compared to over-the-counter night guards, custom night guards are more expensive, but some, or all, of the cost may be covered by the patient’s dental insurance if it is medically necessary. A night guard custom fit by Dr. Veytsman at Cosmetic Dental Studios can be an investment, but they are more comfortable and last longer than store bought night guards.

Are night guards bad for your teeth?

Wearing a custom-made night guard is not bad for your teeth or oral health. Night guards protect your teeth from the effects of grinding like wearing, chips, or cracks.

Do night guards cause cavities?

As long as you properly clean and care for your night guard, it won't contribute to tooth decay. Without proper cleaning, a night guard can grow bacteria on it, which may contribute to tooth decay.

How do you care for a night guard?

• Rinse thoroughly after wearing
• Brush with a toothbrush under water (no toothpaste is needed)
• Allow it to completely dry
• Store in its case
• Clean every 30 days with a nonabrasive denture cleaner or a mixture of white vinegar and hydrogen peroxide

If you are one of the 30 – 40 million Americans who wake up with headaches or mouth pain, ask Dr. Veytsman at Cosmetic Dental Studios about a custom night guard that can protect your teeth from grinding and clenching. Not only will you get a better night’s sleep, but you’ll also protect your teeth from serious damage.