Jennifer Chalker DDS | Night Guards / Sports Guards

Tension, stress, and anxiety one might experience during the daytime can carry over to sleep at night, and lead the person to unknowingly grind his or her teeth together or clench their teeth. No matter the cause, however, frequent clenching and grinding of the teeth wears down the chewing surfaces on them, reduces the tooth's enamel, and can result in a cracked or chipped crown, tooth, or filling.

What are night guards?
Night Guards / Sport Guards small pieces of plastic designed to fit securely around your teeth and guard them from damage. They are quite small, hardly noticeable and can fit in the palm of your hand. Usually, these guards are made of clear plastic, so they will not stand out when you are wearing them. This is great news for those who might be self-conscious about their facial appearance but want to protect their teeth. To see what a typical night guard or sports guard looks like, stop by our dentist office.

Do I really need to wear a night guard?
If you are grinding your teeth at night - yes, you do. We highly value preventative care, and night guards are one of the best and easiest ways we can prevent you from accidentally damaging your teeth. Since you get only one set of natural, permanent teeth, it is best to prevent them from being ground down. Any slight discomfort you might experience while your mouth adjusts is far better than the cost you would incur to repair your teeth. It is simply not worth neglecting this easy, preventative measure. We know that not all of our Harrisonburg patients enjoy the idea of wearing a guard, and we won't recommend wearing one unless we are certain that it will be useful in solving your existing problems or preventing new ones.