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Many patients wonder what the difference between night guards and mouthguards is. While both devices serve a similar purpose, acting as a protective barrier, they function in very different ways.
Both contact sports and grinding your teeth can put you at high risk for tooth fractures and other emergency dental issues, which is why we offer personalized dental consultations for patients in Weehawken, Hoboken, West New York, Edgewater, and Bulls Ferry — where, we create comfortable, custom fitted mouthguards and night guards.
Grinding your teeth when you are asleep is sometimes a sign of stress, but it can also be an unconscious habit that you can’t control. Teeth grinding, also called bruxism, can lead to a number of symptoms that can have an impact on your oral health and the strength of your teeth.
Sometimes, patients don’t become aware they are grinding their teeth until we discover signs of unusual wear on the teeth. Other patients find out they have bruxism because their teeth grinding is loud enough to wake their partner from their sleep. Besides stress or an unconscious habit, crooked teeth, a misaligned bite, or sleep disorders can also lead to bruxism.
We treat patients with the symptoms of bruxism in West New York, Edgewater, Bulls Ferry, Hoboken, and Weehawken by creating a custom-fitted night guard that serves as a protective barrier between your teeth.
Nighttime teeth grinding can also cause severe dental damage because over time, grinding your teeth can destroy tooth enamel and trigger gum erosion. Without treatment, the damage can progress, and may lead to needing surgery. Night guards from our leading bruxism experts in Weehawken help protect your teeth from permanent dental damage if you have signs and symptoms of grinding your teeth.
Night guards created at our state-of-the-art facility in Weehawken can also treat TMJ disorders as well as sleep apnea, by protecting teeth and easing pressure in the jaw. These devices also guard the teeth against chips and uneven wear patterns that may often result from jaw clenching associated with these disorders. By wearing a night guard, you can experience relief from jaw pain, headaches, stiff neck and neck soreness.
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) connects the jaw to the skull. Nighttime grinding or clenching often leads to TMJ disorders. Conversely, TMJ disorders can lead to grinding your teeth. Symptoms of TMJ disorders include stubborn headaches, neck or jaw pain, and worn teeth. Night guards are a simple, non-invasive method for preventing or treating TMJ problems in Weehawken.
Sleep apnea develops when patients stop breathing for brief periods during the night. During sleep, when throat and tongue muscles are more relaxed, this soft tissue can cause the airway to become blocked. Airflow may then become blocked due to the placement of the jaw and tongue. A specially-designed night guard for sleep apnea can help to realign the jaw, relieving some sleep apnea symptoms for patients in Weehawken.
When you clench and grind your teeth, it puts you at a higher risk of developing cavities, tooth sensitivity, gum recession, chipped teeth, or muscle tension. Many of our patients in Weehawken who grind their teeth report that they struggle with headaches, neck pain, and restless sleep. However, using one of our custom-made night guards helps to alleviate their symptoms.
The American Academy of General Dentistry reports that more than two million teeth are knocked out due to sports-related activities each year. Mouthguards can help to protect you or your child from sustaining this painful type of injury.
Store-bought mouthguards often cause more harm than good because they don’t offer a custom fit like custom-made mouthguards. Typically, store-bought mouthguards fall out or make speaking more difficult while wearing them. They can also cause jaw pain and may be less comfortable or effective than custom-fitted professional mouthguards.
In contrast, our custom, professional sports guards are created in Weehawken with advanced technology that guarantees a precision fit and maximum durability for your protection. In addition to a more secure and stable fit, professional mouthguards help prevent the need for emergency dental visits or restorative dental care.
Caring for your night guard or sports guard is important to keep them in good shape and to protect your teeth for as long as possible. In addition to your typical daily oral health routine of regular brushing and flossing, you need to regularly clean your night guard. You should also keep your sports guard clean between uses.
After each wear, you should rinse your mouthguard or sports guard with warm water to remove any debris and plaque. Avoid using a toothbrush or toothpaste, as these can be abrasive and may compromise the integrity of your mouthguard or sports guard. You can, however, use dish soap to gently clean your guard. Regular cleaning and air drying for at least 30 minutes will prevent bacteria growth on your guard.
When not using your guard, you should store it in a way that keeps it protected and dry, such as in a durable mouthguard case. Be careful not to leave your guard in the bathroom, locker room, or vehicle, as hot and humid conditions can cause it to warp.
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Loved my experience here! The staff is friendly and welcoming, and the office is clean and beautiful. Dr. Kaplan was great - he was friendly, didn't rush anything, answered all of my questions, and did my teeth cleaning himself. Very happy to have Skyline Dental for my future dentist visits.
Thank you Dr Kaplan and the staff at Skyline Dental! I had a great experience during my check-up and cleaning. Dr. Kaplan made me feel comfortable and explained dental treatments thoroughly! Skyline Dental truly makes your dentist appointments smooth sailing, (painless too) looking forward to my next visit in six months.
Have had a great experience with Skyline Dental. Dr. Kaplan takes time to explain what’s going on and answer any questions while the reception crew is extremely helpful and knowledgeable. Never have trouble getting through to them or receiving the information I need! Definitely recommend.
I’ve had a great experience working with Dr. Kaplan and his team. Everyone has been extremely professional and great during Covid. The work Dr. Kaplan does is excellent as well. I would definitely recommend working with the team at Skyline Dental Designs
Beautiful office, fantastic staff! Dr. Kaplan is very thoughtful and patient. Pays close attention and puts your best interests first. I never felt uncomfortable even though I had to fill so many cavities on my first appointment here. The BEST dentist!!
I’m fairly new to the area and was looking for a new dentist office. I'm so glad I chose to check out Skyline! The staff is very welcoming and kind. The dentist took his time to answer all of my questions and was extremely helpful. I would highly recommend checking them out if you’re looking!
I have been seeing Dr. Kaplan for a couple of months to correct some cavities and look into orthodontics options. I'm very pleased with this practice overall as well as with the doctor. The staff is kind and responsive, the doctor is very attentive and gives you time if you have questions. Very recommended!
Seamless process from start to finish. Dr. Kaplan is the most thorough dentist I've been to. He took the time to get to know me and my oral health/goals. Explained my options and treatment plan. His actual treatment (for fillings) was completely painless!
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* Our office is conveniently located on Avenue at Port Imperial, directly next to the NY Waterway Weehawken Ferry Terminal. We offer free garage parking for all of our patients! We also have free curbside parking for those that may wish to park streetside.
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