Fun fact: Teeth are the hardest substance in the body. They are even stronger than bones. And actually, a 1960's study found that enamel's hardness is comparable to steel. Therefore, if a dental profession is telling you (and showing you visual proof) that damage is occurring to your teeth, and that you need a night guard (or any thing else) I'd highly recommend you act on treatment to prevent further damage quickly. Because more than likely, the problem will continue if it is not resolved. Hear me out...

A couple of quick facts about a night guard:

1. They can be $$$, but insurance often times ( not always) will help cover some part of the cost.

2. They can be uncomfortable and difficult to adjust to (at first, but it will get easier)

3. THEY WILL UNTIMELY SAVE YOUR SMILE! #micdrop

A mouth guard is used for bruxism, or teeth grinding. It can also be called a night guard. The guard itself is a plastic mouth piece, used particularly at night, to help protect the patient's jaw bone, temporal-mandibular joint (TMJ) *AND* their teeth. The mouth piece is fitted perfect to fit in an individuals mouth. This plastic mouth piece will absorb some of the friction caused by the pressures of teeth grinding together. A night guard also evenly distributes the pressures over all of the mouth, instead of most of the pressure effecting only a certain area of the mouth. If someone is clinching or grinding their teeth their are a few tail tell signs to look for.  In addition, tooth damage from clinching the teeth vs. grinding the teeth appears somewhat differently. Let's break it down a bit more.

Someone whom is only clinching their teeth typically only have vertical cracks, similar to hairline fractures, on their teeth. Look careful at the picture, these teeth have stress fractures throughout.

These appear on the long axis of the tooth. If a patient is grinding their teeth together, the bitting surfaces of the teeth begin to wear down, making the teeth smaller and flatter. Creating small stumps for teeth and they may present with vertical cracks on the teeth as well. In either case, it is a slow process for the fractures lines and wore down teeth to show. After many years of daily (or nightly) grinding, these signs will begin to show. Also, if the patient has recession (where the gum line is pulling away from the enamel), abfactions may also occur, as well as wear on the bitting surfaces. The fractures and abfactions are from constant friction on the teeth. I mean, your poor teeth, something has got to give under the pressure. Unfortunately it is the structure of the teeth has has to "give".

I take pictures, with an intra-oral camera, on my patients to give a true visual of what is going on in their mouths. This is so they can see the current damage on their teeth. With the use of an intra oral camera, we can help predict where more problems are beginning from tooth to tooth contact. For example, pay attention to the X-rays. The red lines in the first photo below shows normal, natural tooth to tooth bite patterns. Over time, as you see as the photos progress down, wear and tear shows up on the tooth as flatness on the biting surfaces of the teeth(these photos are not of the same patient, I just wanted to show different severity of grinding patterns.)

Often times, the damage that is "current" actually demonstrates that a problem has been happening for a long time. With people that grind or clinch their teeth, the wear and tear on the bitting surfaces of the teeth (also known as the occlusal surface) is generalized throughout the entire mouth.

In other words, if a dental professional is showing you visual signs that you need a night guard, YOU NEED A NIGHT GUARD. They are more than likely NOT trying to sell something to you, especially if they are showing you visual proof of damage. Again this will save your teeth in the long run. Promise! ;) Hope this helps someone out there! Message me if you have any specific questions about night guards!