Night Guards / Occlusal Splints
Although looking similar, night guards and occlusal splints are oral devices used for two very different conditions. A “night guard” is a removable acrylic device used to protect your teeth and restorations from the excessively high tooth – to – tooth contact forces due to episodes of riding and/or clenching. Some people are aware of these habits and many are not, as they mostly occur during the rapid eye movement part of deep sleep.
During these times we can put our teeth under up to 1000N of force, or 2.5 times the hardest bite we can tolerate while awake. These forces and habits produce telltale signs on teeth known as attrition facets and each person has his or her own unique wear pattern. These forces can also cause excessive tooth wear and fracture. As we can control our day time habits, but not what we do during deep sleep, the so called “night guard” offers a conservative and affordable method of reducing the damage caused to our teeth by these habits.
Occlusal splints are devices that fit over the “occlusal” surface or tops of the teeth. The device allows your jaw to relax into its resting position and thus alleviate muscle cramping and pain in the jaw joint and racial muscles. This type of pain is considered one of the many types of temporomandibular disorders or “TMD”. This device can be worn all day if required or at night or simply at times of excessive stress.
Natural gum repair and regeneration
Gum disease and gum recession are conditions that affect many people. When the gums receed, they may leave the tooth or teeth looking too long, becoming sensitive or prone to decay. Dr Innes is trained in oral surgery and oral plastic surgery of the gums and is able in many cases to regenerate the lost gum to its natural form and aesthetics.