Night Guards in Encino, CA

Bruxism, or grinding your teeth while you sleep, is an everyday issue that affects many men and women. Even though the most noticeable indicator is deterioration of the enamel of the teeth, nocturnal bruxism might also lead to inflammation, headaches, and tooth pain, plus discomfort in your neck and jaw. To guard your mouth from the effects of bruxism, board-certified dentists Drs. Alan and Yonatan Howard provide customized night guards at The Dental Office Encino that protect your teeth while you sleep. Custom night guards are made with top-quality materials that fit comfortably in your mouth and improve the quality of your sleep by diminishing jaw clenching and teeth grinding. For more information about custom night guards, set up a consult at our Encino, CA dental practice.

A number of symptoms may indicate that you are grinding your teeth and/or clenching your jaw while you sleep. You might wake up in the morning with tightness and pain in your jaw, a headache, or facial swelling. Other indicators are loose teeth and/or fillings, chipped enamel on your back teeth, a receding gumline, and tooth sensitivity. Teeth grinding and jaw clenching at night are often caused by stress, but could also be brought on by misaligned teeth, allergies, a sleep disorder, or temporomandibular joint disorder (called TMD). When Dr. Alan or Yonatan Howard make your bruxism diagnosis, he will also try to find out the cause so that your night guard therapy can be coupled with other treatments for the best possible outcomes.

After Dr. Howard makes your bruxism diagnosis, he will obtain oral impressions and digital x-rays to create your custom night guards. Next, he will send your specifications to a special dental lab where your specialized night guard will be created with the best materials. After your night guard is finished and sent back to our office, you will return to our office for a fitting. Dr. Howard might make small adjustments so that it fits properly and comfortably. Dr. Howard will also give specific instructions on how to properly care for your night guard so it will last many years.

For maximum night guard efficiency, you must wear it each night. Your night guard should diminish or alleviate the discomfort and dental complications created by bruxism, but if it doesn't, please inform our staff so Dr. Howard can address additional issues and try other options. In order to help keep your night guard in pristine condition, we recommend that you clean and care for your night guard prior to and after each use. We ask that you bring your night guard to all future dental appointments so Dr. Howard can adjust and repair the guard as necessary.

Once you receive a bruxism diagnosis, some of the cost of your night guard could be paid by your dental insurance company. If you have dental insurance, someone on our team will call your insurance carrier to determine your coverage and costs. At your preliminary appointment, Dr. Howard will give you information about our accepted payment methods as well as your costs, with or without insurance. To help you afford your dental care, The Dental Office Encino can help you find information on medical financing.

Grinding your teeth can lead to pain and discomfort in a variety of ways. Night guards are a way to lessen the stress created by the symptoms of jaw clenching and teeth grinding. Specialized night guards from The Dental Office Encino might also advance your overall oral health and ward off future complications. If you think night guards may be the solution you seek or you want to learn more, connect with our staff in Encino, CA to set up an appointment with board-certified dentists Drs. Alan Howard and Yonatan Howard.