Night Guards in Aurora

What it is

Grinding and clenching, also called bruxism, often happen during sleep, so many people do not know they do it. Signs include a sore or tired jaw in the morning, dull headaches near the temples, aching ears, teeth that look flat or chipped at the edges, or a partner who hears a grinding sound at night. Your dentist may notice wear before you feel anything.

Grinding can be linked to stress, sleep problems, caffeine, alcohol and smoking, or how your teeth meet. Over time it can wear enamel, crack fillings and teeth, and tire the muscles and joints that move your jaw. Those jaw joints are called the temporomandibular joints, or TMJ. Problems there can cause clicking, pain near the ear, or trouble opening wide.

A custom night guard is a thin, hard or layered plastic tray made from a mould or scan of your teeth. It usually covers one arch, so you bite on the guard instead of tooth on tooth. It does not cure grinding, but it spreads the force, protects enamel and dental work, and for many people helps the jaw muscles relax.

Store-bought guards are softer, thicker and shaped by heating them and biting down. They can help in the short term, but they often feel bulky, can shift the bite if they fit unevenly, and some people chew on soft guards, which can make clenching worse. A custom guard is shaped to your own teeth and checked by your dentist.

Is it right for me?

• You wake with a sore jaw, tight cheeks or a headache at the temples
• Someone has told you that you grind your teeth while you sleep
• Your teeth look shorter, flatter or have small chips along the edges
• You have crowns, veneers or large fillings you want to protect
• Your jaw clicks or aches near the ear, especially in the morning

Step by step

1. ExamYour dentist looks for wear, checks your jaw joints and muscles, and asks about sleep, stress and headaches.
2. Impressions or scanWe take an impression or a scan of your teeth and a record of how you bite. This visit is short.
3. Your guard is madeThe guard is made to fit your teeth closely, in a material your dentist suggests for how you grind.
4. Fitting and bite checkYour dentist checks the fit, then marks and smooths high spots so both sides of your jaw meet the guard evenly.
5. Follow-upBring the guard to your next checkups so we can look for wear or cracks and adjust it if needed.

How it compares

General information. Your dentist will explain what applies to you.

Benefits and risks

Cost and coverage

The cost of a night guard is set by the exam, the impressions or scan, making the guard, and the fitting and adjustment, with the Ontario Dental Association fee guide as our reference. Insurance plans treat guards differently: some cover them, some limit how often they are replaced, and some ask for a reason, such as wear seen at your exam. We can send a predetermination to your insurer first and bill all plans directly. Ask us how a night guard fits with the Canadian Dental Care Plan or IFHP for your situation, and ask about our in-house dental plan and student program. You will get a written estimate before the guard is made.

What shapes your estimate

• Whether you need a guard for the upper or lower teeth
• The material your dentist recommends
• Any jaw or bite assessment done before the guard is made
• Adjustment visits after the fitting
• Your insurance coverage for occlusal guards

Read more about insurance and payment, the Canadian Dental Care Plan and IFHP coverage.

After your visit

• Rinse the guard and brush it gently with a soft brush each morning, using cool water, not hot
• Let it dry and keep it in its vented case, away from pets and heat
• Brush and floss before putting it in at night
• Bring it to each checkup so your dentist can look for cracks and wear

Questions