What are gum shields
Protect Your Teeth During Sleep and Sports Experiencing sleep disorders like snoring or obstructive sleep apnoea? Are you suffering from tooth sensitivity or headaches due to nighttime teeth grinding? Or are you a sports enthusiast looking to safeguard your teeth during activities? At Galway Dentists, our team are here to assess if you need a gum shield or a nightguard.
Who are gum nightguards for?
Nightguards serve a similar purpose but are designed for sleep, particularly for those who grind their teeth (bruxism). They act as a cushion, preventing headaches, inflamed gums, and tooth damage, ensuring a peaceful night’s sleep.
Nightguards are dental appliances designed to protect your teeth while you sleep. They are particularly beneficial for individuals who suffer from bruxism, a condition where you unconsciously grind or clench your teeth during the night. This grinding can cause tooth wear, sensitivity, and even damage and contribute to jaw pain and headaches.
How Are Gum Shields and Nightguards
Custom gum shields and nightguards at Galway Dentists are tailored for a perfect fit:
- We take impressions of your teeth.
- You choose the design and colour.
- The impressions are sent to a lab for manufacturing.
- On your next visit, we fit the device and provide care instructions.
Custom-made gum shields at Galway Dentists ensure they’re an accurately fitting device for your mouth. For the best protection, we recommend monitoring how you wear it and maintaining it properly.
Nightguard procedure
The following are the steps on how to create and fit a nightguard.
- We will take impressions of your upper and lower teeth, ensuring their correct fit.
- This impression will become the mould, which we will send to the lab to manufacture your nightguard.
- The lab will send the finished guard back to us.
- You will come to us for your next visit to fit your nightguard.
- If it fits perfectly, you can come home and wear it while sleeping. It should have a comfortable, snug fit, not shake or rock.
Open Hours
- Mon-Fri: 8:30 AM – 5 PM
- Saturday: Closed
- Sunday: Closed
Key Features
Material: Nightguards are typically made from a durable, yet comfortable plastic material. They can be hard, soft, or a combination of both, depending on the severity of grinding and the specific needs of the user.
Custom Fit: While over-the-counter nightguards are available, custom-made nightguards provided by a dentist offer a better fit. They are created from an impression of your teeth, ensuring they are comfortable and practical.
Protection: By creating a barrier between the upper and lower teeth, nightguards prevent direct tooth-to-tooth contact, thereby reducing wear and tear on your enamel, lowering the risk of fractures, and alleviating strain on the jaw joints.
Alleviates TMJ Symptoms: For those suffering from TMJ disorders, nightguards can help reduce stress on the jaw joint and surrounding muscles, alleviating symptoms like pain and discomfort.
Improves Sleep Patterns: Nightguards can contribute to a more comfortable and uninterrupted sleep by preventing teeth grinding.
Longevity and Care: Nightguards are durable but will wear out over time and need replacement. Proper care, including regular cleaning and storage in a protective case, can extend their lifespan.
In summary, nightguards are a preventive tool to protect your teeth and jaw from the adverse effects of nocturnal bruxism and TMJ disorders, contributing to better oral health and overall well-being.
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Alternative Treatment Options
Book a consultation today with one of our team, who will be happy to discuss these options with you in-depth
Gum Shields & Nightguards Galway
Our Prices
Our team will gladly help you decide about these dental appliances. Visit us at 6 Father Griffin Avenue, Galway, Co. Galway H91 ERP4, to learn more. You may also schedule your appointment by calling (091) 58 22 22 or emailing [email protected] today!