Night Guards/Bite Guards/Splints
A night guard is a plastic mouthpiece that fits over the upper and lower teeth. Night guards prevent the upper and lower teeth from coming together, lessening the effects of clenching or grinding the teeth.
All night guards are not the same. Dr. Vita does not ever recommend a store bought or "over the counter" night guard. A night guard has a specific purpose, therefore MUST be customized for each patient. An ill-fitting or improperly made guard will not provide benefit and can in fact create more of a problem. No two guards are alike because each patient has their own specific diagnosis.
A night guard is a device that will not cure a TMJ problem, but rather be used to manage symptoms created by the TMJ dysfunction.