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Prepare for a Visit · Preventive Care

Occlusal Guards

Occlusal Guards explained in clear patient-friendly language, including what to notice, what a dentist may review, and questions to ask.

Preventive Care

Occlusal Guards can influence oral comfort, disease risk, treatment choices, or healing. Its dental significance depends on personal history and current findings.

Description

Occlusal Guards can influence oral comfort, disease risk, treatment choices, or healing. Its dental significance depends on personal history and current findings.

What to Expect

The bite is evaluated and an impression or scan is used for a custom guard; fit, comfort, and contacts are adjusted at delivery.

Risks and Concerns

A guard may feel bulky, affect saliva or speech, wear, crack, alter bite contacts if poorly fitting, or fail to stop the underlying clenching activity.

Treatment Alternatives

Behavior awareness, sleep evaluation, physical therapy, stress care, or another appliance may be appropriate depending on the diagnosis.

Delaying Treatment

Wear, fractures, muscle pain, and restoration damage may continue when harmful forces are not managed.

Questions to Ask

What problem is the guard treating? Upper or lower? How should I clean it, and when should fit be rechecked?

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