Dental Occlusal Guards

One of the most common dental conditions is clenching and grinding. Often, these conditions are limited to times of sleep, but they can also happen throughout the day and are especially correlated with times of stress. Guards are a great way to protect your teeth from the damaging effects of clenching and grinding. Over time, clenching and grinding can cause extensive damage to the dentition including wear, shortening, fracture, etc. At times, this damage can lead to bone loss, tooth loss, or the need for root canals. These habits can also cause wear on the jaw joint leading to headaches, muscle tension, and jaw joint pain. Although many over-the-counter products are sold for this, a custom-made guard is the best option for creating a balanced, comfortable, and protective appliance.

Dental Sleep Appliances

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a very serious medical condition that causes the person to stop breathing repeatedly while sleeping, 1 in 15 Americans suffer from this condition. If you snore loudly or wake up tired from a full nights rest, you may be suffering from OSA. OSA can have long-lasting and serious effects on your overall health; it can increase your risk of heart attack, stroke, hypertension, diabetes, and can decrease your overall life span. There are several risk factors when it comes to this condition including obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, large tonsils and tongue, amongst others. A sleep study is recommended for proper diagnosis of condition and severity. Although a CPAP machine is the gold standard treatment for this condition, for patient’s who have mild to moderate OSA and cannot tolerate a CPAP machine, an oral appliance can be made as an alternative. Please speak with the dentist if you are interested in this option to help treat your OSA.