A night guard, more precisely called an occlusal splint, does not stop the bruxism activity itself. It does not prevent the jaw muscles from contracting or the grinding movement from occurring. What it does is interpose a protective barrier between the upper and lower teeth so that the grinding force is absorbed by the splint rather than by the tooth surfaces themselves. This protects the enamel and dentine from the direct wear that unprotected grinding produces, distributes the biting forces more evenly across the dental arch to reduce localised overloading, and in some patients reduces the degree of muscle tension and jaw discomfort by altering the pattern of jaw muscle activity during sleep. A custom-fitted splint made from a precise impression of your own teeth is significantly more effective and more comfortable than an over-the-counter guard bought from a pharmacy, which cannot be accurately fitted to the individual tooth anatomy and may actually worsen jaw muscle discomfort in some patients. What a night guard can achieve is protecting the teeth you have and preventing the wear and damage that would occur without it, which is the clinical priority for every patient with confirmed bruxism at Tooth Firm, HSR Layout, Bengaluru.
Related reading:
Bruxism and Jaw Pain: Do You Grind Your Teeth in Your Sleep?
TMD and Orofacial Pain: A Complete Guide to Jaw Pain, Clicking, Headaches, and Modern Treatment Options
Written by Dr. Deepa Jayashankar, MDS (Prosthodontics and Implantology), Fellowship in Temporomandibular Disorders, Orofacial Pain and Sleep Medicine (USA), Founder and Chief Dentist, Tooth Firm Dental Care and Implant Center, HSR Layout, Bengaluru 560102. Phone: +91 8088058704.
