Night Guard to Prevent Clenching - Dental Health Message Board

Luv2Travel · 05-14-2009, 02:50 PM

About a month ago, I saw a dentist who said I was clenching my jaws and this was causing some teeth to fracture and small pieces to break off. He recommended that I have a custom mouth-guard made to keep me from clenching at night. I never knew I did this, but have since caught myself clenching at least several times a day.

Well, I had to go to a new dentist before the guard was made. The new dentist agreed that I clench and said that I'm chipping my teeth. BUT, the new dentist said that a mouth guard won't work correctly for me since I still have my wisdom teeth. My mouth isn't overcrowded because of my wisdom teeth because I had four permanent teeth removed as a child (2 top and 2 bottom).

The new dentist has an oral surgeon within his practice and I'm wondering if the wisdom teeth can honestly be a problem with a mouth-guard or if he's trying to get more money out of me. Any opinions out there? Thanks!!

trychocolate · 05-14-2009, 02:57 PM

That is a really good question. The night guard does need a bit of space behind those back teeth, maybe helps keep it anchored for some people, but you say you have plenty of room in your mouth. So you must have a few millimeters to spare back there.

Did dentist explain why?

Luv2Travel · 05-14-2009, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trychocolate

Did dentist explain why?

No, he didn't give me any more of an explanation. Hindsight, I should have asked more questions, but he seemed to be in a bit of a hurry. More I think of it, maybe he was talking about the space in the back between my upper and lower teeth??

Thanks!

trychocolate · 05-14-2009, 05:53 PM

hm..I thought the guard is made to accommodate that so I guess I'm just not getting it. It's a solid piece with indents and curvitures, right? Mine is loaded with bite marks from chomping and grinding and it still continues to survive.

I hope you can post here when you get an answer.

choc

Stribe · 05-14-2009, 09:33 PM

I have been wearing nightguards for years, and I still have all my wisdom teeth. I wore soft nightguards for years, and have learned for experience that they make your clenching worse, make sure when you get a nightguard that its a hard one.

Now, everyone's mouth is different, so its possible your wisdom teeth are in such a position that making a nightguard would open your height too much, which could cause joint problems. Just be sure to ask plenty of questions, if you don't get answers that satisfy you, find another dentist. Consult visits are cheap compared to years of work and the important relationship you need from any healthcare provider.