TMJ Testing & Custom Mouthguards in Calgary

Have you experienced damaged teeth, a sore jaw or frequent headaches recently? Does your bite feel “off,” for lack of a better description? If so, you may be causing undue damage to your teeth without even knowing it. Bruxism refers to excessive teeth grinding or jaw clenching, and it often occurs at night while we sleep. If you suffer from this condition, it is recommended to use dental mouthguards to protect your teeth. At Northland Village Dental Centre, we provide quality mouthguards in Calgary.

If the pain stems more from the joints and facial area, and you’re subject to frequent clicking sounds and tenderness around your ears as you’re eating, you may be suffering from temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction. This common disorder affects the muscles around the jaw, as well as the joints connecting the mandible to the skull.

In such a situation, you are advised to use mouthguards to protect your teeth and jaw. At Northland Village Dental Centre, we provide you with quality mouthguards in Calgary.

We can provide you with custom mouthguards if you have:
• Chipped or broken tooth
• Jaw pain and facial soreness
• TMJ disorder

What is Bruxism?

Bruxism is a condition wherein people grind and clench their teeth with varying degrees of severity. While grinding your teeth while sleeping (sleep bruxism) is more common, it might also occur during the day (awake bruxism). The former falls under the category of sleep-related movement disorders. For this reason, those that have sleep bruxism often suffer from other sleep conditions such as pauses while breathing also called sleep apnea. While mild sleep bruxism doesn't require treatment, those with a severe degree suffer from headaches, jaw pains, and extensive teeth damage.

In many cases, people with sleep bruxism cannot detect this condition till they suffer from severe tooth damage. We recommend paying attention to the following symptoms common in those with this condition:

Tight jaw
Neck pain
Face pain
Frequently disrupted sleep
Difficulty completely closing jaw
Flattened, chipped and fractured teeth
Increased tooth pain for no apparent reason
Pain that is reminiscent of an earache without being one
Teeth grinding is loud enough to wake up those sleeping next to you

Please schedule a bruxism assessment in Calgary with us if you notice any of these signs or anything else amiss.

You can learn more about taking care of your teeth by browsing our blog.

What Are Dental Mouthguards?

Maintaining a healthy smile is achievable by following a brushing and flossing routine coupled with regular visits to the dentist. However, those with particular concerns like teeth grinding or TMJ might have to use additional devices to protect their smile. One such device that we offer in our dental clinic in Calgary is custom dental mouthguards. They fit over your teeth and gums to cushion them from damage when you clench your teeth while sleeping. Mouthguards are made with a soft thermoplastic material that significantly minimizes the wear on your teeth and controls grinding.

Generally, mouthguards cover your upper teeth, but those with concerns such as braces might also require them for their lower teeth. A mouthguard provides adequate protection and relief from grinding while we explore different treatment options for your bruxism, TMJ or any other dental issue causing you to clench your teeth while sleeping.

People of all age groups can benefit from mouthguards. If you'd like to learn more about our custom-made dental mouthguards in Calgary, we invite you to get in touch. We also offer various dental solutions, such as dental bridges, crowns, fillings, and more.

How Do Mouthguards Help with Bruxism?

When you clench your jaw at night, your mouthguard will loosen the tightening and prevent grinding. Wearing mouthguards will protect your enamel from the wear and tear damage associated with the grinding motion.

Types of Dental Mouthguards

The habit of teeth grinding or bruxism can cause headaches, muscle tightness, jaw pain, along with the wearing down of your enamel. Mouthguards protect you from this issue by providing an effective barrier between your upper and lower teeth.

Here at Northland Village Dental Centre, we design custom mouthguards to address your unique dental concerns. Following are the common types of mouthguards available:

Soft nightguard: This mouthguard is for 'light grinders' who might clench their teeth at night while sleeping. They are typically 1.5mm thick and made out of soft thermoplastic material.
Hybrid nightguard: This type of dental mouthguard has a soft inner layer for comfort and a hard outer one to ensure sturdiness.
Hard nightguard: This heavy-duty mouthguard comes with 1.5mm thickness and is ideal for those with severe bruxism. It's incredibly durable and made out of an elasticized acrylic material.
The ultra-thin daytime guard: As the name suggests, this dental mouthguard is suitable for those prone to grinding their teeth during the day. It’s made with a thin acrylic material about 1mm in thickness which makes it barely noticeable.
Splints: These types of mouthguards are ideal for people who have TMJ. These devices raise the bite and reposition the jaw to alleviate symptoms.

If you are not sure about the severity of your teeth grinding symptoms, feel free to schedule an appointment with us.

Benefits of Mouthguards

A common cause of tooth decay is bruxism — grinding your teeth as you sleep. A dental mouthguard covers and protects the teeth, lips, and soft tissues of the oral cavity. We make our custom mouthguards in Calgary out of a durable material available in numerous colors. The material can be smooth or rigid depending on a patient's preference or the dentist's recommendation. Wearing a mouthguard:

Minimizes pain and tension in the jaw
Prevents teeth-damage
Eliminates bruxism-related headaches
Reduces bruxism pain
Prevents damage to the orthodontic appliances
Reduces the risk of gum diseases
Helps protect your lips and tongue
Protects your braces

Customized Mouthguards in Calgary

Once we have assessed the condition properly, we will provide custom sleep mouthguards to prevent night grinding. The mouthguard used for treating bruxism acts as a protective barrier between the upper and lower teeth.

We provide special mouthguards called splints to treat TMJ, which raise the bite and reposition the jaw in a way that helps relieve any symptoms and discomfort. These nightguards have to be custom-made to ensure they are effective.

Are you a first-time visitor? We accept new patients of all age groups.

Book an appointment with our dentists for preventive, general and cosmetic dentistry services.

Give us a call today if you are in need of mouthguards in Calgary.