Mouth Guards/Bite Splints

Dentists make mouth guards, or bite splints, to protect your teeth from grinding together, known as bruxism. They are also used in the treatment of temporomandibular joint dysfunction, TMD, also known as TMJ.

Mouth Guards for Grinding

Your dentist may recommend a mouth guard to protect your teeth from grinding together especially at night, when you are sleeping and unaware of it. Your sleep specialists may recommend mouth guards or bite splits as treatment for sleep apnea.

Process

1. Your dentist will take impressions of the arches of your mouth, both top and bottom.
2. The impressions of your mouth are sent to a lab that specializes in making dental appliances.
3. When you return for your fitting, your dentist will make sure the mouth guard fits properly and is balanced in your mouth. Any adjustments that need to be made will be made in the office that day. Your dentist will want to adjust your mouth guard one month, three months and six months following your initial fit.
4. Your dentist will give you careful instructions on how to care for your mouth guard.

Mouth Guard Adjustments

Your dentist will recommend that you schedule periodic follow up appointments to make sure the mouth guard still fits appropriately and to make any minor adjustments. You should also bring your mouth guard to every hygiene visit so we can check and clean it.