Few people know that mouthguards are some of the most innovative and helpful dental appliances on the market. This is because of their multifunctionality. Below are three common dental concerns that are treated through the use of customized mouthguards.
Teeth Protection
If you play impact sports, you know that you are always at risk for unexpected facial trauma. Sports like baseball, basketball, football, wrestling, gymnastics, and ice hockey all require you to wear a well-fitting mouthguard to protect your teeth, gums, and jaw. Many patients dislike wearing an over-the-counter mouthguard because they rarely fit the unique shape of their smile. That’s why Dr. Larsen provides customized mouthguards that are made to fit your teeth. Additionally, if you wear any other oral appliances like braces, our customized mouthguards can be made to fit around those as well. Customized mouthguards stay in place better than over-the-counter mouthguards, which allows patients to focus less on protecting their teeth and more on scoring the winning goal.
Sleep Apnea Treatment
Sleep apnea, or chronic loud snoring, can be treated through the use of a customized nightguard, or oral appliance therapy. For mild to moderate cases of sleep apnea, patients will benefit from a customized nightguard because it holds their jaw in a comfortable, healthy resting position which prevents their soft tissues from collapsing in the back of their throat and causing them to snore. Patients may also use CPAP, or a continuous positive airway pressure machine in addition to a customized oral appliance to assist in treating their sleep apnea. An at-home sleep test can be used to diagnose sleep apnea.
Bruxism Treatment
Bruxism, or teeth grinding, is the unconscious clenching of the jaw and grating teeth. Patients are often unaware that they’ve been grinding their teeth until they begin waking up with a sore jaw, loose teeth, or tooth damage. For Bountiful, UT patients, Dr. Larsen constantly examines your teeth for signs of teeth grinding so that he can prescribe you with a customized nightguard, or a mouthguard that is worn at night, to prevent tooth damage. A nightguard fits snugly over your smile and protects your teeth while you sleep. Even if you attempt to grind your teeth together, you will not cause tooth damage through the nightguard.
If you are interested in receiving a customized mouthguard, schedule an appointment with Dr. Larsen today or call us at 801-228-0155.