What Are the Pros and Cons of Night Guards? 

What Are the Pros and Cons of Night Guards? 

Oct 01, 2020

There are many oral appliances employed in dentistry for different treatments. Dental experts in Hudson family dental spend countless hours customizing different dental appliances for patients. If your treatment involves the use of dental appliances, then you may be aware of the treatment involved thereof.

When it comes to night guards, their use differs from one patient to another. They are made for different purposes, which is why you must consider their pros and cons before choosing to have them.

What Are Night Guards?

They are dental prosthetic devices that are used for treating different oral problems, ranging from TMD and bruxism, to sleep apnea. They are alternative mouthguards that protect you differently from other types of mouth protectors.

A major distinction is that these mouth protectors are specially made for usage at night. It means that the oral-related problems being treated are those that manifest symptoms at night. Ideally, you put on the night guard before you go to sleep. It is the oral device that conditions your mouth for different behaviors and patterns as you sleep.

Night Guard Pros and Cons

The advantages and disadvantages of night guards can only be underlined based on the type of night guard used. There are definite distinctions between customized night guards and immediate ones. Overall, you can consider the following as general pros and cons of night guards.

  • Pros of night guards
    • They help protect teeth – are night guards effective? This is a question that lingers in the minds of many patients. The truth is that the night guards add an extra layer of protection to your teeth. It is why they are also known as mouth protectors. They help guard your teeth against dental traumas and accidents that may result due to external impact.
    • They are comfortable – this is particularly true for mouth protectors that are customized for your teeth. They snug so well that there is no room for discomfort.
    • They aid breathability – one of the main reasons why night guards are used to treating disorders like sleep apnea is because they aid breathability. They help keep your airway open by pulling the upper jaw away from the lower jaw. You should notice improvements with your breathing patterns when you sleep.
    • They prevent erosion of the enamel and damage to your teeth – dentists in Union City, NJ, use night guards as a treatment for bruxism. It is a condition that features grinding teeth, especially during sleep. It is very common among children. The impact of excessive teeth grinding is that it damages the enamel of your teeth by causing thinning. This then results in other oral issues like dentin hypersensitivity.
    • They alleviate discomfort – discomfort that arises from temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD)caused by bruxism can be displeasing and unsettling. Some of the discomforts come from the regular migraine headaches you may have, jaw pain, to mention a few. Night guards can help overcome all these issues, giving you a better-quality life.
  • Cons of Night guards
    • Can be ill-fitting – if you opt for pre-made mouth protectors, they can be ill-fitting. This can make it uncomfortable to wear.
    • It takes time to get used to wearing the night guards – effective as they may be, it may take some time before you get used to wearing the mouth protectors at night, having that they are removable.
    • Addiction to wearing them – this is particularly for children who have to wear night guards before they sleep. They can get too caught up in the routine that it becomes difficult for them to sleep without them. With dental issues like bruxism, people often grow out of it. In such a case, you would want your child to be under treatment until they can grow out of the teeth grinding habits. When they become too attached to their night guards, it can be hard to help them quit the learned habit.
    • They are not made for long-term usage – after a couple of months, the night guards may not be as effective as they are. Besides, in the case of pediatric treatment, the child will have grown significantly, rendering the previous night guards ill-fitting.

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