Headaches, clenching and grinding, and protection during sports are only a few of the benefits that oral appliances can offer. Your dentist can custom design an oral appliance to meet your specific needs and lifestyle. Here we’ll talk more about some of the conditions that oral appliances can help with and how they offer an improved lifestyle.
Teeth Grinding
Otherwise known as bruxism, teeth grinding can cause a host of problems such as headaches, wear on your teeth, and TMJ, which is a painful jaw joint disorder. Clenching and grinding typically occurs at night while you’re sleeping so many patients aren’t aware of their condition until jaw pain or headaches start to occur. Night guards are oral appliances worn at night while you sleep, that your dental provider can create in order to protect your teeth from the wear and tear of bruxism.
Sports Guards
Did you know that sports injuries account for about 40% of dental emergencies? If you or your child participate in sports, it’s important to protect your teeth from injury or damage. You can pick up generic mouth guards at your local sporting goods store, however these options often don’t fit very well. Your dentist can fabricate a custom mouth guard that will fit snugly over your teeth, protect your teeth from harm, and won’t impede your play.
Sleep Apnea
This is a dangerous sleep disorder that occurs when your airway is obstructed during the night, causing you to stop breathing. This signals your brain to wake you up. This can occur hundreds of times per night, even though you may never realize it. Snoring is a telltale sign of sleep apnea, and if left untreated, it can cause many health issues such as heart failure, headaches, depression, and stroke.
Your dental provider can customize a sleep appliance that will help to move your jaw forward slightly and open constricted airways, allowing you to breath more easily throughout the night. Oral appliances are less invasive and many patients find them easier to wear than a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device, which requires you to wear a mask over your face while sleeping.
At Parker Dental & Orthodontics, our doctors have years of experience in creating oral appliances to help patients with many different needs. Whether you’re looking to protect your teeth during the next sporting event, or you suffer from debilitating headaches, we will work with you to design a customized oral appliance that will improve your life. The first place to start is to schedule a consultation with one of our highly skilled doctors. Schedule your appointment today.