How useful are hard mouth guards? - TMJ Disorder -TemporoMandibular Joint Message Board

susu2007 · 01-01-2009, 10:32 AM

The latest of in a string of specialists I have seen recommended I get a hard mouth guard to stop me from clenching my teeth at night? He recommend a hard one with a soft top or something along those lines.

Has anyone ever tried a hard mouth guard? Have they been of any benefit? Would they eventually lead to an open bite?

Thanks,..

Thelma-Louise · 01-02-2009, 11:40 AM

Well - it may depend on what he means by "hard mouth guard". Mouth guards in general usually just prevent the teeth from being damaged from grinding or clenching - some people find they end up grinding or clenching even more - especially with soft guards - although they tend to be more comfortable.

If however he is referring to a hard splint - splints can be designed to change the resting position of the jaw and take the occlusion of the teeth out of the equation as well - this helps the jaw achieve a relaxed postion at night and in turn stops the need to grind or clench - which in turn allows the muscles to remain relaxed. There are various types of splints and some are worn on the bottom, some on top or both.

The NTI is one type of upper splint which sits only on the upper front teeth - this increase the space or vertical dimension within the mouth and relieves the pressure off of the back teeth by not letting them touch. I have seen a few posts by members that have developed open bites in using them but this occurred after long term useage 24/7 over several years - so many felt it best to limit useage to a few night a week once all symptoms are resolved - otherwise your symptoms will return over time.

The reason the bite may become anteriorally open is that by the NTI not allowing the upper back teeth to touch the lower back teeth - they eventually will begin to erupt (or grow/shift) downward in effort to meet the other teeth and have something to rest on. With the back teeth now longer - the front teeth will no longer meet without the NTI being in place.

This is also why dentists often recommend that lost teeth be replaced in some manner as it is generally the forces exerted by proper occlusion which keep teeth from shifting.

susu2007 · 01-03-2009, 02:22 AM

Thanks Thelma-Louise,

The specialist didn't actually use the word "splint". The conversation was, of course, in Arabic, so I am not sure whether he meant a splint or a regular mouth gurad.

He had asked me whether I was using a mouth gurad and I told him I used one at night. That's when he asked me whether it was the soft or hard type and I said it was the soft one. From what I understood, it seems he was recommending a mouth guard that covers either the upper or lower teeth but comes in hard plastic or something similar.

I have heard that the NTI could lead to an open bite. I am not sure if I remember correctly, but I think one memeber on this board once wrote that she developed an open bite after using it for only a few weeks.

I am having an MRI today so I am hoping that will shed light on whether I have muscular TMJ or have a serious problem with the joints themselves. I guess if the problem is that I clench, then I will have to seriously look into means of putting an end to this habit.