One common question we get a lot is: “A dentist has mentioned before that I needed a nightguard. Why do I need one? I don’t feel like I grind my teeth at night.”
Well, even though a person may feel like they do not grind or clench their teeth at night, there are several reasons why a dentist may suspect that a nightguard is needed.
Some things that the dentist may be seeing that show signs of wear on the teeth include: worn teeth, chipping on crowns or fillings, or cracks starting to form on teeth.
These are all indications that the teeth are in contact throughout the day and night, suggesting that there is a sign of grinding or clenching.
The main reasons why we may suggest a nightguard are:
Preventing teeth from cracking. In more severe cases, we have seen teeth that have never even had fillings on them break in half, requiring extraction. The photo from this blog is from a patient who didn't know she ground her teeth but occasionally had a sore ear. She had never cracked a tooth before, but was going through a stressful year. This tooth needed removing.
Having a history of fractured, cracked teeth. Once we start to see a pattern of fractured or broken teeth, we may suggest a night guard to prevent more teeth from fracturing.
Having a history of worn teeth. When teeth are very worn, the inner layer of the tooth may be exposed causing sensitivity to the patient. In drastic cases, if tooth wear is not addressed, the teeth could be worn so much that the nerve of the tooth could be exposed.
To protect an implant. After an implant is placed, it is important to protect the implant from excessive wear. Because an implant is different than the tooth, and cannot move or absorb impact as well, excessive forces on it could result in premature breakage of the implant or implant crown.
What is the process of getting a nightguard?
Getting a nightguard is easy!
At our dentist office in Vancouver, use our state-of-the-art Primescan Intra-Oral Scanner to scan your mouth (no goopy, uncomfortable impressions needed!) for the creation of the nightguard. The scan gets sent directly to the lab. Two weeks after the initial appointment, we fit the custom-made nightguard into your mouth, assess the fit, and give instructions.
Both appointments are less than 30 minutes each.
We are happy to answer any questions you may have on why you need a nightguard, and how to get nightguards in Vancouver. BC.