You already own a night guard, but it feels loose, looks chewed, or mostly lives in a drawer. From Georgetown, bring it in so we can check it against your teeth, look at any new wear, and talk about what protection should look like now.
Many people were given a guard years ago and have not thought about it since. Meanwhile teeth may have been filled or crowned, the appliance may have thinned, and the habit it was made for may have changed. Grinding and clenching, collectively called bruxism, can keep loading teeth and restorations. An updated look shows what is happening now, though the wear itself still cannot prove how often grinding occurs.
It is also possible that some of the wear never came from grinding. Acid from food, drinks, or reflux, along with ageing restorations, can produce similar changes. A tooth that has become sensitive, or a jaw that aches, is assessed separately rather than assuming the old guard simply needs replacing.
Georgetown sits north of our Milton clinic, and people from there often arrive with a guard in a case and a list of questions. We examine your teeth, check how the appliance sits, and look for new chips or cracks. Then we discuss whether to keep, adjust, or replace the guard, and whether any tooth needs repair, without claiming that an appliance will end grinding.
Small changes to the guard or your teeth can mean the original plan no longer fits. Bring the appliance, and mention anything new, even if you are not sure it relates to grinding.
If edges have continued to shorten, the dentist compares them with older records and with the opposing teeth. Age, recent dental work, and acid exposure are considered before deciding whether the wear has progressed and why.
Breakage while you are wearing protection, or on nights you skip it, is useful information. Note when it happened. Restoration design, tooth structure, bite forces, and daytime habits may all be involved.
Continuing muscle discomfort may relate to clenching, the fit of the guard, or something else entirely. Report locking, reduced opening, or facial pain that persists so the appropriate assessment is not overlooked.
Sudden pain, a crack, or a loose tooth needs prompt attention, whether or not you wear a guard. Do not assume new symptoms are covered by an old diagnosis.
A well-fitting guard keeps upper and lower teeth from grinding directly together and can limit further damage. A worn or poorly fitting one may offer less protection or cause discomfort. Either way, it does not rebuild enamel and is not a cure for bruxism. A review clarifies what the appliance is doing for you now.
If daytime clenching has become more noticeable, awareness of jaw position may be discussed. Sleep problems, heavy snoring, or exhaustion may prompt a suggestion to see your physician. Each plan follows the findings, not the assumption that one device or one cause fits everyone.
Patient information: National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research — bruxism
Updated notes and images give a new baseline. If older records exist, they can show whether wear has progressed. Ask which areas will be followed.
If teeth have been repaired since the guard was made, its fit may need checking. Protecting newer work matters as much as the material it was made from.
A guard you dislike wearing is not protecting anything. Telling us what bothers you, whether bulk, tightness, or appearance, helps the plan focus on something you will actually use.
Bring the appliance and its case. A few notes about how often you wear it, what has broken, and how you feel on waking are plenty.
We ask when it was made, how often you wear it, and whether anything has changed. Clenching, night grinding, sleep, and medicines are reviewed. Continue any prescribed medicine and raise questions about it with the prescriber.
The dentist inspects the guard for thinning, cracks, and fit, then examines teeth, restorations, and jaw movement. The way the appliance sits on newer fillings or crowns gets particular attention. Additional records are taken when they help answer a particular question, not as a routine extra.
Options may include continuing with the current guard, adjusting it, making a new one, monitoring, or restorative work. Ask about the purpose, material, fees, and review plan for any new appliance.
A new or adjusted guard is fitted with instructions, and restorations have their own review. Bring the appliance to future visits. Persistent symptoms or new damage suggest the plan should be reconsidered.
An appliance only helps on the nights it is worn. Comfort, simple care, and honest updates at each review keep protection working.
Rinse and clean it as directed for its material, let it air dry, and keep it in a vented case. Hot water and warm windowsills can warp it. Bring it to every visit, and report pressure, cracks, or bite changes instead of trimming it.
Gentle reminders to relax the jaw and keep the teeth apart may help if awake clenching is part of your history. Ask for suggestions that fit you. Grinding on purpose to test the habit is not recommended.
Note new chips, sensitivity that lingers, or jaw discomfort that changes. Tell us frankly if you have stopped wearing the guard and what made it difficult. That helps separate a fit problem from a need to rethink the plan.
Patient information: NIH News in Health — grinding and clenching
Questions about older guards, fit, and new wear often overlap. A good answer separates what your teeth show, what the guard is doing, and what any symptoms mean.
Patient information: NIDCR — jaw disorders and treatment considerations · American Dental Association — obstructive sleep apnea
Visit our Bronte Street clinic for a loose or worn guard, new chips, or jaw discomfort that has returned. We will check the appliance against your teeth and discuss whether to keep, adjust, or replace it, and whether any tooth needs repair.
Call about a painful cracked tooth, swelling, or a jaw that suddenly will not open. Online requests are for non-urgent bookings.
