Night guards & TMJ
Night guards and TMJ care in Miami
Grinding and clenching wear teeth down, crack restorations and leave the jaw sore — often while you sleep. A custom night guard protects your teeth and the work you have invested in.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Rodolfo Rodriguez, DMD · Updated
Signs you grind or clench
- Teeth that look flat, short or chipped at the edges
- A sore or tired jaw when you wake up
- Headaches at the temples, especially in the morning
- Teeth that are sensitive, or fillings and crowns that crack
- Someone has heard you grinding at night
Many people have no idea they grind until a dentist sees the wear. Read do I need a night guard?
A custom night guard
A night guard is a thin, hard appliance made to fit your teeth exactly, worn while you sleep. It takes the force of grinding instead of your teeth, and lets the jaw muscles relax.
Store-bought guards are bulky, fit loosely and can shift. A custom guard is thinner, stays in place and is balanced to your bite, so it's more comfortable to wear every night.
Protecting veneers, crowns and implants
If you grind, a night guard is part of caring for porcelain veneers, crowns and implants, and for a full arch of fixed teeth on All-on-4. Porcelain is strong, but years of grinding can chip it. We plan a guard with your treatment when you need one.
TMJ and jaw pain
The temporomandibular joints (TMJ) connect the jaw to the skull, just in front of the ears. Problems with the joints or the muscles around them can cause pain, clicking or popping, a jaw that feels stuck, and headaches.
Care starts with an exam of the joints, the muscles and your bite. Depending on what we find, it may include a night guard, simple habits — softer foods, no gum chewing, warm compresses — and, for clenching muscles, Botox.
Grinding and sleep
Grinding at night is sometimes linked with sleep apnea. If you snore loudly, someone has noticed pauses in your breathing, or you wake up tired, Dr. Rodriguez will recommend a sleep study.
FAQs
How long does a night guard last?
Will it feel strange to sleep with?
How do I clean it?
Does a night guard stop grinding?
Terms
- Bruxism
- Grinding or clenching the teeth, often during sleep.
- Night guard
- A custom appliance worn at night to protect the teeth from grinding.
- TMJ
- The temporomandibular joint, which connects the jaw to the skull.
- TMD
- Temporomandibular disorder: pain or problems in the jaw joints and muscles.
Related
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