Mouthguards/Nightguards in Scarborough

Mouthguards/Nightguards in Scarborough, ON

Many people do not even realize they’re grinding their teeth. It may only happen when you’re asleep. Often, only we can tell if you are grinding your teeth! Eventually, Bruxism not only wears down your tooth surfaces and loosens teeth but also leads to displacement of the joint that connects your upper and lower jaws. To prevent this, Dr. Shawn Monga or Dr. Shiva Monga can prescribe a custom-fitted nightguard to wear while you sleep.

• Wearing away your tooth structure – especially the biting or chewing surface.
• Breakdown of the ligaments that support your teeth.
• Loss of jaw bone.
• Soreness in jaw joints or facial muscles.
• Headaches.

Sport Guards

Did you know that a mouthguard is an important piece of athletic equipment? If you treasure your smile, a mouthguard is a must! A custom-made mouthguard designed by us at EK, Mantra or PL Dental Clinic in Scarborough is the most efficient solution to protect your teeth.

Looking to unlock your full athletic potential? Did you ever think a sports guard could help? By being fitted a custom mouthguard, you can now join the increasing number of professional athletes who claim it increases their athletic capability. While the mouthguard itself doesn’t magnify athletic capacity, it releases unnoticed muscle tension built up from a misaligned jaw, which in turn frees athletic potential. Get your custom-fitted mouthguard today!

People often use the words mouthguard and nightguard as if they mean the same thing, but they do two different jobs. Knowing which one fits your situation helps you protect your teeth in the way that actually matters for you.

A sports mouthguard

A sports mouthguard is athletic gear. You wear it during games and practices to cushion your teeth, lips and gums against a stray elbow, a puck, a ball or a fall. It tends to be a little thicker and is shaped to absorb impact, which is why it's a sensible piece of equipment for hockey, basketball, soccer, rugby, martial arts and plenty of other activities.

A nightguard

A nightguard is a thinner, smoother guard you wear while you sleep. Its job is to take the pressure of grinding and clenching, known as bruxism, so your teeth aren't wearing against each other night after night. It won't stop you from grinding, but it gives your teeth a surface to press into instead of one another, which helps reduce the wear and tooth sensitivity that grinding can cause. If you're dealing with a tooth that's already cracked or worn down, our page on broken or chipped tooth care explains what comes next.

Because most grinding happens while you're asleep, you may not notice it directly. Often it's a partner who hears the sound at night, or it's something we spot during a check-up before you feel a thing. Still, your body tends to leave a few clues:

• Jaw soreness or tightness, especially first thing in the morning
• Dull headaches that start around the temples
• Teeth that look flattened, chipped or worn along the biting edges
• New tooth sensitivity to hot, cold or sweet things
• A partner who mentions hearing a grinding or clicking sound while you sleep
• Aching facial muscles or a clicking jaw joint

If any of these sound familiar, it's worth mentioning at your next visit. A quick look at how your teeth are wearing usually tells us whether a nightguard would help, and catching it early means less repair work down the road.

You can buy a boil-and-bite guard at the drugstore, and for a one-off it's better than nothing. But it's a one-size shape softened in hot water and bitten into, so the fit is approximate. It can feel bulky, slip while you sleep, or push you to clench harder just to keep it in place.

A guard we make for you starts from a precise model of your own teeth, so it sits snugly without being forced. That tends to make it more comfortable to wear, easier to keep in all night, and longer-lasting. A guard you actually wear is the one that helps protect your teeth, and comfort is a big part of why custom guards get worn night after night. If grinding has gone hand in hand with sore or receding gums, our gum treatments page is a useful read too.

Custom guards are part of the everyday care we offer across our general & preventive dentistry services, and all five of our clinics across Scarborough and East York accept the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP).

Getting a custom guard is straightforward and usually takes two short visits. Here's what to expect:

1. First, we take an impression or a digital scan of your teeth. The scan is quick and mess-free, and it captures the exact shape of your bite.
2. That model goes to a dental lab, where your guard is fabricated from a durable material chosen to suit whether it's for sport or for night-time grinding.
3. At your fitting visit, we check that it seats properly, adjust anything that feels high, and make sure it's comfortable to bite on and easy to get in and out.

We'll also show you how to wear it and store it so it stays in good shape between visits.