![]() And because they also stop the jaw muscles from clenching tightly, there’s no excess stress placed on the temporomandibular joint. Not only do night guards prevent contact, they spread the biting forces of the jaw over the surface of the guard to greatly reduce their impact. Night guards fit over the affected teeth to prevent them from touching directly, saving tooth and enamel from injury and wear. And one of the simplest and most effective treatments for preventing the damage caused by bruxism is a night guard. While these problems can be treated with restorations, or root canals, or implants, or surgical procedures, prevention is clearly a much better option for a healthy smile. Severe cases of bruxism can lead to injury to the temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, the complex hinge that allows our jaws to move up and down, back and forth, and side to side. If the damage is too serious for repair, replacement might be necessary. Bruxism can lead to fractured veneers and damaged fillings and crowns. Seriously compromised or broken teeth might need to be extracted. Cracked, chipped, and worn down teeth can mean veneers, crowns, and root canals. Our jaws are extremely powerful, and clenching and grinding can put hundreds of pounds on pressure on teeth and jaws over hours of sleep. Pain and fatigue are unpleasant enough, but there are additional serious consequences for those who suffer from bruxism.
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