Oral Appliances
Oral Appliances
What are oral appliances and what are they used for?
One of our goals at Premier Dental Concepts of Andover is to provide the most conservative treatment possible in every situation. Oral appliances offer simple, non-invasive treatment for a variety of conditions. Regardless of the application, every appliance we prescribe is custom-crafted just for you. Whether we’re treating nighttime sleep grinding, a diagnosed case of obstructive sleep apnea, bite problems, or other jaw joint disorders, appliance therapy may be a valuable complement to your treatment. Our doctors use a variety of innovative designs depending on your treatment goals and preferences.
Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a common but serious condition affecting millions of people worldwide. It is characterized by frequent pauses in breathing during sleep, which can lead to low oxygen levels, increased heart rate, and other adverse health effects. However, with the proper treatment, it is possible to manage sleep apnea and get a better night’s sleep.
At Premier Dental Concepts in Andover, MA, our team of experienced dentists and specialists is dedicated to helping you achieve optimal oral health and wellness. We offer a range of dental services, including oral appliances for sleep apnea treatment.
What are Oral Appliances for Sleep Apnea?
Oral appliances are devices worn in the mouth while sleeping to help prevent the airway from collapsing. They work by repositioning the jaw and tongue, which helps to keep the airway open and reduce the number of pauses in breathing.
Our dental professionals at Premier Dental Concepts will work with you to find the right oral appliance to suit your needs and preferences. We offer a range of options, including custom-fitted devices, to help ensure a comfortable fit and effective treatment.
Benefits of Sleep Apnea Treatment with Oral Appliances
There are many benefits to treating sleep apnea with oral appliances, including:
- Improved sleep quality
- Reduced snoring
- Better overall health and wellness
- Increased energy and productivity
- Improved mood and cognitive function
Teeth Grinding
What is teeth grinding and what causes it?
Teeth are the hardest substance in our bodies and can withstand a tremendous amount of force. But damage can occur, especially when grinding forces start to wear them away. A habit of nighttime clenching or grinding will harm teeth, muscles, and jaw joints over time.
Mouth Guards
Both mouth guards and snoring aids take the form of thin plastic formed to the shape of your teeth, similar to at-home whitening trays. In both cases, your dentist takes an impression of your teeth, which he sends to a dental lab for the fabrication of a custom appliance.
Night Guards
A night guard is a mouth guard for people who grind their teeth or clench their jaws at night, while they are sleeping. This behavior is called bruxism. A person may not even be aware of doing this, but their teeth will be worn down from the constant friction. Sometimes teeth can even be cracked or fractured from the stress. Research studies indicate that grinding and clenching one’s teeth may result in eighty times the average daily tooth wear.
A night guard is a plastic appliance – a thin form – that just fits over either the top or bottom teeth and keeps the teeth from being able to make contact. It is simply impossible to grind your teeth while wearing this appliance. In addition, it provides a little cushion so that clenching the jaw does not exert so much force.
A night guard is also sometimes helpful for a condition called TMJ or TMD, in which a person has put so much pressure on the temporomandibular joint between their jaw and the side of their skull that they develop symptoms such as these:
- Pain in the jaw, face or neck
- Headaches or migraines
- Popping or clicking sounds when opening or closing the mouth
Athletic Mouthguards
If you play sports, or your children do, take the time to watch this PlaySafe Video.
The statistics tell the story. Between amateurs and professionals, athletes lose more than five million teeth per year. Just as you wear a seat belt so you don’t become one of the driving accident statistics, wear a mouth guard during sports. It’s one of the best investments you can make, because these are the only teeth you get. We are not lizards and cannot grow new parts.
You can, of course, find off-the-shelf mouth guards that are better than nothing. However, they can never fit as well as a PlaySafe guard custom made for you. When your mouth guard fits properly, you forget you are wearing it, so you can concentrate on winning the game! If you have children, it is doubly important to have a guard custom made, because kids just won’t wear uncomfortable gear.
According to research statistics, when mouth guards are actually worn and fit properly, risk of injury can be reduced by up to 99%.
If you have any questions about mouth guards or any of the conditions described on this page, contact us for a free consultation!
Contact Us
Premier Dental Concepts
We have an experienced team of dentists in Andover, MA. Since there are many dental problems that you can have if you are not having the right kind of dental services, you should think of having your teeth cleaned and repaired as early as possible.