Expert restorative dentist Kourosh Maddahi can provide you with a custom, comfortable nightguard to stop teeth grinding and preserve your teeth and dental work.
Headaches, jaw pain, and damage to your teeth can all be caused by grinding your teeth and clenching your jaw while you sleep. Dentists term this condition bruxism, and it is much more common than you'd think.
Most patients who brux are completely unaware that they are doing it.
Often, it is the spouse of the bruxer who becomes aware of it first, as he or she is disturbed by the grinding or chomping of teeth in the night.
In addition to causing pain and discomfort, bruxism will grind down your teeth or dental work, causing damage well beyond normal wear and tear.
Beverly Hills Dentist Kourosh Maddahi has successfully assisted numerous patients in the treatment of bruxism with a simple nightguard.
A nightguard or "occlusal guard" is shaped by Dr. Maddahi so that it fits most comfortably. It is placed on one jaw – generally the bottom - and it acts as a protective layer between the two sets of teeth. Nightguards look similar to mouthguards, but are much less bulky and act only as protection for grinding.
[Bruxism caused this patient to wear down his front teeth. After Dr. Maddahi restored his teeth to normal size with crowns and veneers, he provided this patient with a nightguard to ensure that the new teeth would not be damaged.]
It is a good idea to use a nightguard to avoid major, permanent damage to one's teeth that is often associated with bruxism.
Beyond the head or jaw pain often caused by bruxism, damage may be caused to the teeth by the constant grinding: cracks, fissures, chipping, weakening, and removal of protective tooth enamel that can lead to increased sensitivity to cold and heat.
Your initial consultation and exam with Dr. Maddahi are free. In a thorough, 41-point exam, Dr. Maddahi will thoroughly evaluate your teeth, gums, jaw, and soft tissues, including evaluating you for TMJD.
If you have TMJD, your treatment plan will include everything necessary to resolve it.
(NOTE: There may be a charge if x-rays are necessary. We encourage our patients to bring x-rays to their first visit if they have had them taken recently.)
