A night mouth guard is a dental appliance that protects teeth, decreases the destructive effect of tooth grinding and relaxed jaw muscles in TMJ patients. Soft plastic on the lower arch works best. It creates an even thickness of soft plastic that excellently adapts to the patient's lower teeth.

         The night mouth guard must be made properly. If not constructed tightly, it can be removed and thrown across the room while sleeping. The material is thermoplastic, meaning that it gets soft when heated and hardens as it cools. If the material is allowed to cool on the model for several hours, it shrinks tightly and gives an excellent fit.

          The night mouth guard must be worn correctly. The appliance pulls the jaw joints down and forward away from the patient's ear. Most patients want to position their jaws forward and this appliance does this without the muscles. If you do not wear it 24/7 for a week before wearing it only at night, it won't work. The jaw joints are part of a human body and it doesn't make sense to think that the guard is the only thing needed to stop tooth grinding or cure a TMJ problem. We also place all patients on an extensive six week program.

          When not being worn, a night mouth guard should always be placed in a retainer box or house pets can chew it up. Athletic guards do not work well because they are too thick, unevenly constructed, attach to both jaws and have lots of sharp edges. However, I will recommend it for an emergency when a patient can not get into the office or is out of town. If you would like to consult with Dr. Padolsky, make your appointment by calling 404-874-7428.