Night Guards for Bruxism in South Jordan, UT

Common indicators include waking up with jaw soreness, headaches that start at the temples, tooth sensitivity that has no obvious cause, flattened or chipped edges on your teeth, and your partner telling you that you grind or clench in your sleep. Some patients only discover they grind when Dr. Osborne spots the wear pattern during a routine exam.

Stress is the most common cause, but sleep disorders like sleep apnea, certain medications, bite issues, and even caffeine intake can contribute. Children can develop bruxism too, especially during periods of growth or stress, though many outgrow it.

Drugstore night guards are a one-size-fits-most solution, and that's the problem. They're bulky, often don't fit comfortably, and can actually make grinding worse by creating an unstable bite at night. Many patients end up not wearing them, which defeats the purpose entirely.

A custom night guard is made from a precise scan or impression of your teeth. It fits exactly, stays in place, and is thin enough that most patients forget it's there within a week. It protects the teeth without causing jaw strain, and the materials we use are far more durable than drugstore options.

Dr. Osborne takes a digital scan or impression of your teeth, along with a bite registration so the guard is calibrated to how your upper and lower teeth meet. The guard is fabricated at a dental lab and is typically ready within one to two weeks. At your fitting appointment, we check the fit, make any small adjustments, and give you instructions for wear and care.

You wear it every night, ideally for the full sleeping period. In the morning, rinse it with cool water, brush it gently with a soft toothbrush (no toothpaste, which can scratch the material), and store it in its ventilated case. With proper care, a custom night guard lasts three to five years.

Most patients notice significant improvement within the first one to two weeks of consistent wear. Morning jaw pain fades, headaches become less frequent, and tooth sensitivity often resolves. More importantly, the underlying damage to your teeth stops, preserving the enamel and structure you'd otherwise be slowly grinding away.

Untreated grinding silently damages teeth over years. We see patients who come in with multiple cracked teeth, worn enamel that exposes the underlying dentin, flattened cusps that no longer chew efficiently, and receding gums from the constant pressure. Each of these can require significant restoration, often thousands of dollars of crowns, veneers, or even root canals for teeth that fractured under sustained stress.

A custom night guard costs a small fraction of what treating bruxism damage costs. If you have any reason to suspect you grind at night (a partner mentioning it, morning jaw soreness, unexplained headaches, or visible wear Dr. Osborne points out), a night guard is one of the highest-value preventive investments you can make.