How to Know You Are Properly Fitting a Night Guard

When a dentist is faced with a patient who suffers from Bruxism (grinding teeth) or TMJ problems, night guards are a highly recommended form of treatment. The device keeps the upper and lower jaw from grinding or clenching together while the patient sleeps. Doctors must decide whether a hard or soft plastic would best fit their patient's needs. To properly fit a night guard, slight adjustments are made to the appliance's thickness and occlusion.

Things You'll Need

• Slow-speed handpiece
• Cone attachment for handpiece
• Acrylic bur
• Articulating paper
• Articulating paper holder
• Vaseline

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Instructions

• 1

  Set up the handpiece by attaching the cone. Place the acrylic bur into the cone attachment. Place a piece of articulating paper into the articulating paper holder. Apply a thin layer of Vaseline onto the articulating paper.

• 2

  Instruct the patient to insert the night guard into her mouth. Place the articulating paper in the patient's mouth. Instruct the patient to bite up and down multiple times. Move the paper around the entire arch of the patient's mouth while she continues biting. Ask the patient to remove the night guard.

• 3

  Inspect the night guard's biting surface. Adjust the marks left by the articulating paper that appear to dominate. Instruct the patient to re-insert the night guard.

• 4

  Repeat Step 3 until the articulating paper marks appear even across the night guard. The patient's teeth should make a smooth transition across the appliance.