Dr. Raymond del Castillo specializes in treating severe grinding and joint pain using a custom-fitted night guard. This oral appliance is designed to fit perfectly, alleviating your discomfort and improving your overall wellbeing so you can enjoy a healthier smile.
Night guards, also known as occlusal guards, fit over your upper or lower teeth and work to protect your teeth and other oral structures from the effects of bruxism, a condition characterized by the grinding and clenching of the teeth. While teeth grinding and clenching can occur at any time, it is most common while sleeping, making wearing a night guard essential to protecting your teeth, smile and oral health.
Bruxism can lead to a range of dental problems, including enamel wear, tooth fractures and increased tooth sensitivity. Over time, the force exerted by grinding can strain the muscles and joints of the jaw, potentially leading to temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJD), a condition that can cause pain and dysfunction in the jaw joint and the muscles that control jaw movement. Night guards help mitigate these risks by providing a barrier between the teeth, which absorbs and redistributes the forces exerted during grinding and clenching.
When you receive a night guard, our experienced dentist will take an impression from which your appliance will be designed. Creating a customized night guard is crucial, as it ensures both comfort and effectiveness and will provide you with far better results than a generic, over-the-counter mouth guard, which may not provide an optimal fit.
For more information about night guards in Coral Gables, Florida, and to schedule your consultation with our dentist, please contact Minorca Smiles at 305-443-4713. We are committed to improving your health, smile and quality of life.