Night Guard Specialist

Emergency Dentist NYC

Emergency, Cosmetic, and General Dentistry located in Union Square, New York City, NY

If you grind your teeth while sleeping, whether it’s related to temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction or other issues, you can erode much of your tooth surface without even realizing it. Eventually, this could leave you with inadequate tooth surface, cracked teeth, or other serious issues. Fortunately, a night guard can solve all of these issues by preventing involuntary teeth grinding. The skilled team at Emergency Dentist NYC, in Union Square in Manhattan, New York City, offers comfortable custom-made night guards that protect your teeth and jaw. Call the office or book your visit online today.

Night Guard Q & A

What is a night guard?

A night guard is a custom-fitted dental appliance that you wear overnight while you sleep. Night guards protect against teeth grinding and clenching, so they can save you from serious tooth erosion, tooth cracking, and even tooth loss.

What are the symptoms of teeth clenching or grinding?

Often, you’re completely unaware of teeth clenching or grinding because it generally happens only while you’re asleep. But, you may notice these telltale symptoms of teeth grinding or clenching: 

  • Waking up with a headache
  • Jaw pain
  • Cracked teeth
  • Worn-looking teeth
  • Increase in tooth sensitivity
  • Daytime tiredness due to restless sleep

If you’ve noticed these symptoms, it’s important to schedule a visit to Emergency Dentist NYC as soon as you can. The skilled dental team can evaluate you carefully to check for underlying problems like bruxism (teeth grinding) or temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction, and prescribe a custom-made night guard to help.

How does the night guard process work?

The night guard process starts with impressions of your mouth. Emergency Dental NYC has a state-of-the-art digital impression machine, so you can bypass the messy putty completely. Although the night guard generally just covers your top arch, digital impressions of both arches are important to ensure optimal fit and maximum comfort. 

Once your custom-made night guard is ready to wear, a fitting is scheduled to make any necessary adjustments and ensure a comfortable fit. You wear the night guard while you sleep to maintain a barrier between your top and bottom arch. This prevents teeth grinding, wearing, cracking, and other types of damage. 

What are my night guard options?

Night guards are made of different materials, based on the severity of your teeth grinding or TMJ. For mild, occasional teeth grinding, you may need a soft plastic night guard, but if you grind your teeth consistently, you likely need a dual laminate night guard with a soft inner layer and a hard outer layer. For severe teeth grinding or TMJ, you might need a hard night guard made from acrylic. 

To get a custom-fitted night guard from NYC’s leading specialists, call Emergency Dentist NYC today or use the online appointment maker anytime.