Occlusal Splints/Night Guard

An occlusal splint is often prescribed for nighttime use to reduce the wear and tear on teeth when a serious bruxing or clenching problem is active. Essentially, teeth grinding involves clenching, gnashing, or grinding your teeth, often without being fully aware of your actions, particularly at night. It may be damaging to your health because it can lead to serious conditions such as premature enamel loss, fractured teeth, temporomandibular joint disorder, and gum recession. In some patients with certain types of structural TMJ disorders, it may be necessary to wear an occlusal splint for an extended period of time. The splint is designed to protect your teeth from grinding and clenching (also called bruxing) while helping your teeth maintain their proper position.

The occlusal splint functions to reduce muscle tension and minimize painful symptoms by decreasing the jaw’s tendency to clench and grind. Using an occlusal splint will decrease your jaw muscle tension, allowing you to feel more relaxed and refreshed when you wake up in the morning. Each time you put on an occlusal splint, you may feel some tightness for a few minutes, which is a normal reaction. We provide many occlusal splints that come in different designs, and we strive to make our occlusal splints feel comfortable. Our highly experienced dentist will prescribe the type of occlusal splint that you need for very specific reasons. The permissive splint is one of the most common types of occlusal splints.