If you wake up with a sore jaw or your teeth are showing wear that wasn’t there a few years ago, a nightguard may be the simplest thing we can do to protect what’s already there. Dr. Johnson fits them regularly for patients across Olney, Sandy Spring, and the surrounding neighborhoods.
Nightguards are custom-made oral appliances designed to protect your teeth from the effects of grinding and clenching, also known as bruxism. Because these habits often occur during sleep, many patients don’t realize they’re happening until symptoms such as jaw pain, morning headaches, tooth sensitivity, or worn teeth begin to appear.
A custom nightguard fits comfortably over your teeth while you sleep, helping distribute the pressure caused by grinding and clenching. Although it doesn’t stop the habit itself, it helps protect your teeth from excessive wear and can reduce jaw discomfort, headaches, and other symptoms associated with bruxism.
The fitting process is straightforward and typically wraps up in two appointments. At the first visit, Dr. Johnson examines your teeth and bite, looks for signs of wear, and takes a precise scan or impression so the nightguard is built to the exact shape of your mouth. At Advanced Cosmetic and Family Dentistry of Olney, we use an intraoral scanner for this step, which captures a detailed digital model without the need for traditional impression material.
Once the model is sent to the lab, your custom nightguard is fabricated from a durable acrylic material. When it comes back, you return for a short fit appointment. Dr. Johnson checks the bite, makes any minor adjustments on the spot, and walks you through how to wear and care for it. Most patients adapt to sleeping with it within a week or two.
Store-bought nightguards are available at pharmacies, but they’re made to a generic shape and often fit loosely. A loose appliance can shift during sleep, alter your bite, or simply be uncomfortable enough that you stop wearing it. A custom-fitted appliance from our office is built specifically to your bite, which makes it more effective and far more likely to stay in use over the long term.
Not everyone who grinds their teeth realizes they’re doing it, and not every patient with jaw soreness is experiencing bruxism. During your dental exam, Dr. Johnson looks for signs of grinding or clenching, including worn tooth surfaces, small chips, and unexplained tooth sensitivity.
Patients who clench their teeth may also experience morning jaw soreness, headaches, or muscle tension, even if there is little visible tooth wear. If your symptoms suggest a bite or jaw issue, Dr. Johnson may recommend a custom nightguard or discuss additional treatment options.
Stress is a common contributor to teeth grinding, and children can develop the habit as well. During routine visits, Dr. Johnson evaluates patients of all ages for signs of bruxism and recommends preventive treatment when appropriate to help protect their teeth from long-term damage.
If you’re visiting us for a nightguard, your appointment begins with a comprehensive evaluation. Dr. Johnson will examine your teeth, bite, and jaw to determine whether grinding or clenching is causing your symptoms. If any existing damage is present, she’ll discuss whether additional treatment may be beneficial before your nightguard is made.
Once you’re a candidate for treatment, we’ll take digital impressions of your teeth and send them to a dental lab to fabricate your custom nightguard. Most appliances are ready within one to two weeks. At your delivery appointment, Dr. Johnson will ensure the nightguard fits comfortably and make any necessary adjustments.
We’ll also review how to clean and care for your nightguard to help maximize its lifespan. During your routine dental cleaning visits, we’ll check its fit and condition to ensure it continues protecting your teeth effectively.
A custom nightguard helps protect your teeth from the long-term effects of grinding and clenching. Because tooth enamel cannot regenerate, preventing excessive wear is often far simpler and less costly than repairing damaged teeth with restorative treatments.
During your routine dental exams, Dr. Johnson monitors your teeth for signs of wear and can identify changes over time. This ongoing evaluation helps determine whether a nightguard is effectively protecting your smile or if adjustments to your treatment are needed.
If grinding has already caused tooth damage, we offer comprehensive restorative dentistry services, including crowns and bridges, to restore both function and appearance. By providing preventive and restorative care in one location, we can create a treatment plan tailored to your long-term oral health.
