Differences Between Mouth Guards and Night Guards
Some people think that a mouth guard and a night guard are the same, but this is not correct. Keep reading if you want to find out about their differences and when you should choose one or another.
If a dentist near you evaluated you and told you that
you have bruxism, most likely, he or she will recommend night guards in Dryden.
Even though a person can also grind their teeth during the day, this
parafunctional activity is most common during the night.
Nightguards near you can help protect your teeth;
however, they will not eradicate the problem. There are many reasons why a
person can clench their teeth, and our dentist in Dryden can help you determine
the root cause. Still, using the guard will reduce the risk of harming your
teeth and avoiding further issues.
So what are the differences between a mouthguard and a night guard? Look no further to find out
Nightguards don’t need to be as thick because you
won’t receive any impacts in your sleep. They are fabricated with a heat-cured
plastic, hard enough to cushion the clench of teeth and avoid the enamel from
being worn out. On the contrary, sports mouth guards need to be thick
enough to protect your teeth, face, jaw, and soft tissues during a trauma. You
would be surprised at how many oral injuries are derived from contact sports;
hence, the guard needs to be fabricated with durable material.
Both types protect
your teeth, but they do so in different ways. As we mentioned above, if you
grind your teeth excessively, what you need is a barrier between upper and
lower teeth to avoid the enamel from wearing down. The material of a nightguard should be harder to absorb the grinding of your teeth during long
periods.
If you practice
sports, especially contact ones, such as boxing or hockey, a guard will absorb
any impacts, which is why they are fabricated with a softer material. Besides
covering your teeth, they should cover gums.
Which One to Choose?
Whether you need a sports guard or a night guard, you will see that there are many different options. Even though over-the-counter appliances are less expensive, we strongly advise you to visit our dentist in Dryden to determine which one is best for you. You can also opt for a customized guard, and our dental professional will create it for you. First, he or she will take an impression of your teeth, and use the mould to create your guard, using thermoplastic material. The thickness of the plastic will vary from patient to patient, depending on how severe their teeth grinding is; however, it does not need to be as thick as a sports guard.
The plus side of custom-made guards is that they fit better, so you will be comfortable while wearing it and won't have to worry about it falling off. On the downside, they are more expensive.
There is no one the solution fits all, which is why we encourage you to schedule an appointment
with a dental professional that can listen to your expectations and offer you
the best treatment according to your wants and needs.
Contact Us
We hope that you can
have more clarity regarding the difference between mouth guards and sports
guards; and, if you have any other questions related to the subject or any
other treatment, feel free to contact us. We have a caring team of doctors that
will be happy to assist you in the best possible way.
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