Everyone Clenches Their Teeth

In over 25 years of practicing dentistry in Flagstaff, I have noticed a huge rise in the incidence of TMJ (temporal mandibular joint) pain. I suppose this is due to the fact that life is overall more stressful and people are clenching their teeth in response (this it is just my casual observation). People may have pain in their jaw for many reasons.  It usually stems either from the joint itself or from the muscles associated with it. So how can we combat this inevitable jaw-clenching pain? What can the world of dentistry offer in terms or relief?

One of the best ways to avoid TMJ pain is by wearing a night guard (a.k.a. an occlusal guard) at night. A guard works by keeping your muscles of mastication (chewing jaw muscles) from tensing up and activating during sleep. A hard acrylic night guard reduces the amount of force these muscles exert and diminishes the tension in one's jaw muscles. There is often some immediate relief from TMJ pain by simply wearing this custom made dental appliance to bed at night.

It is important to know that the rubbery guard for sale at your local Flagstaff Wal-Mart often does more harm than good. The $12 price is low but it is actually worse than doing nothing at all to treat TMJ symptoms. The reason for this is that the "squishy" or soft mouth guard (although good for protection while playing sports) is a huge muscle worker during the night and can lead to a very sore jaw muscle in the morning. The pliable material actually encourages the jaw muscles to work and clench even harder. This disallows the jaw to relax and rest when it needs it the most.

For acute jaw pain we have recently been helping patients with laser therapy, which sends a deep relaxing heat into the muscle. The laser can give relief to sore muscles in a matter of minutes. Sometimes we may refer you to see a TMJ specialist.  There are none in Flagstaff but if need be there are a few down south.
Night guards also prevent wear on teeth and protect them over the long term from grinding at night. If teeth wear through the enamel, they can become extremely sensitive and become costly to restore.

When considering a night guard, how much should a TMJ splint (night guard) really cost in Flagstaff, AZ?

The cost at our office as of this publishing is $600. Our guards are custom made, of the highest quality, and guaranteed. We make sure each guard is perfectly adjusted to the bite of each patient. 

To read more about this, visit us at our website flagstaffdentist.comflagstaffdentist.com.