Do you ever wake up with a headache or sore muscles in your face? Do you have difficulty opening your mouth, or chewing hard foods? You may be clenching your teeth or suffering from Temperomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD).

Most people are unaware they are clenching or brushing their teeth, and this could be damaging the surfaces of you teeth or fillings, or causing gum disease. The muscles in your face can become very tight from clenching or grinding your teeth. This can lead to headaches and spasms in your head and neck. The muscles are attached to the joint that opens and closes your mouth, the Temporomandibular Joint, or TMJ. Dr. Isaacson or Dr. Barclay will check your TMJ for asymmetry, clicking, and popping, and ask you if you are experiencing any pain or difficulty eating or opening your mouth.

Not all clicking and popping noises mean there is a problem, but if you are experiencing pain or difficulty chewing, your doctor will provide a thorough examination to find out if treatment is possible. We may recommend a device called a night guard to protect your teeth from clenching or grinding or relieve some of your symptoms or we may suggest that we even out your bite.

A night guard is a specially designed piece of clear molded plastic that sits on the biting surface of your teeth and prevents you from being able to exert large amounts of pressure on your teeth or joint. A night guard is also recommended to protect delicate crowns, implants, if you have periodontal disease and for patients who participate in high-impact sports.

Please feel free to ask Dr. Isaacson or Dr. Barclay about night guards at your next dental appointment.