Preventative Dentistry
There are two situations when teeth benefit from extra protection. One is when you are sleeping, and the other one is when you are doing athletic activity. The need is obvious for a dental guard while engaged in football, boxing, wrestling, hockey, baseball, and other sports dangerous to your teeth. Athletic guards prevent lost and broken teeth, thus avoiding thousands of dollars in dental expense.
NIGHT GUARDS & ATHLETIC GUARDS
Some people have a night-time habit of grinding or clenching their teeth, putting a great deal of pressure on their natural teeth, replacement teeth, and dental restorations, such as fillings and crowns. In addition, this can place too much pressure on the temporomandibular joint (TMJ or jaw joint), resulting in pain, headaches, and/or clicking noises when opening and closing the mouth.
Ready-made athletic guards may be found at sporting goods stores, but there is little that can be done in the way of adjusting the fit. Such devices can be uncomfortable and even interfere with breathing and speaking, thus discouraging an athlete from wearing the device at all. Given the importance of protecting your teeth, you might want to order a custom-made athletic guard that you will actually wear.