Custom Night Guards in Summerville, SC
Waking up with a sore jaw, a dull headache, or teeth that feel unusually sensitive is more than an annoying way to start the day. These symptoms are often the first sign of bruxism, the medical term for grinding or clenching your teeth, and left untreated, it can wear down enamel, crack teeth, and strain the muscles and joints that control your bite.
At Old Trolley Dental Associates, we help patients throughout Summerville protect their smiles from the lasting damage grinding can cause. As part of our broader approach to preventive dentistry, we design custom night guards that fit your mouth precisely, giving you a comfortable barrier between your upper and lower teeth so you can sleep without unknowingly grinding away your own enamel.
Signs You May Be Grinding or Clenching Your Teeth
Bruxism often happens while you sleep, which means many patients have no idea it is occurring until we point out the warning signs during an exam. Recognizing these symptoms early can help you avoid more extensive dental work down the road.
Common signs include the following:
- Waking up with jaw soreness, tightness, or a clicking sensation
- Frequent morning headaches near the temples
- Flattened, chipped, or unusually sensitive teeth
- A partner mentioning they hear grinding noises at night
If any of these sound familiar, it is worth scheduling an exam so we can check for visible wear patterns on your teeth and evaluate the health of your jaw joint. Catching bruxism early often means a simple night guard is all that is needed to stop the damage before it progresses further.
Why Custom Night Guards Work Better Than Store-Bought Options
Drugstore mouthguards are built from a single generic mold, which means they rarely fit the unique shape of your bite. A guard that is too loose can slip out of place during the night, while one that is too bulky can feel uncomfortable enough that patients simply stop wearing it.
Bruxism is also more common than most people realize. Research published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found that nearly 40 percent of the dental students surveyed reported signs of possible bruxism, with dental wear, cracked teeth, and prosthetic failures cited among the most common consequences of untreated grinding. A custom guard is molded from an impression of your own teeth, so it stays securely in place and distributes pressure evenly across your bite, which is why we always recommend a custom fit over anything sold over the counter.
How We Fit Your Custom Night Guard
Getting a custom night guard at Old Trolley Dental Associates starts with a comprehensive exam so we can confirm bruxism is actually the cause of your symptoms rather than a different dental issue. From there, we take a precise impression of your teeth, which is sent to a dental lab to fabricate a guard built specifically for your bite.
Once your guard is ready, we have you try it on in the office to check the fit and make any small adjustments needed for comfort. This is also a good time to discuss whether ongoing grinding has affected any existing dental work, since patients who already have crowns or bridges benefit from added protection against the extra force bruxism places on restorative dental treatments. A well-fitted guard should feel secure without shifting, so you can wear it every night without a second thought.
Protecting Your Long-Term Oral Health
A custom night guard does more than stop the grinding itself. It protects the investment you have already made in your smile, whether that means natural teeth you want to keep intact or restorative work you want to last as long as possible.
We also see night guards as one piece of a bigger picture. Routine visits for general dentistry allow us to monitor for new wear patterns over time, and if cost is a concern, we offer several financial options to help make treatment more manageable. Addressing bruxism now is almost always simpler and less expensive than repairing the damage it can cause later.
Custom Night Guards at Old Trolley Dental Associates
Our two dentists at Old Trolley Dental Associates have spent more than 20 years building this practice into a trusted name in Summerville, and together they have treated patients as partners for 10 years, a commitment that carries over into every night guard we fabricate. Dr. Scott Kibler’s background includes naval service and advanced training at the Medical University of South Carolina, and Dr. Michael Skovira brings his own MUSC training to the practice. With more than 1,000 five-star reviews, we take pride in helping Summerville families protect their smiles for the long run.
If mornings have been leaving you with a sore jaw or you have noticed new wear on your teeth, we would love to help you find relief. Contact our office today to schedule an exam and find out if a custom night guard is right for you.