Bruxism, the clenching/grinding of teeth, affects a huge portion of the population. It can cause tooth wear and can even cause teeth to crack or break. Bruxism can also affect the quality of life by causing headaches, jaw ache and toothache.
Bruxism can be treated by wearing a nightguard as most of the clenching and grinding happens when you sleep. At Chiltern Avenue Dental Practice, we supply a variety of nightguards, including the S4S Sleep Clench Inhibitor (SCI). Your dentist will assess your case and suitability.
Sleep clench inhibitor (SCI)
When we clench our teeth, most of the force is applied to the molars. If that force is moved to the front of the mouth, the intensity of the temporalis muscle is reduced by at least 70%.
The Sleep Clench inhibitor can prevent certain types of TMD (Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction), protect restorations and implants from clenching and reduce tension headaches.
The SCI is custom made for each patient. Each case will be assessed individually. The appliance can either be prepared chairside, or, in some cases, we may need to send impressions to the laboratory for the inhibitor to be made.
Your dentist will always ensure that your SCI is a comfortable and secure fit.
