About Night Guards

Studies have shown that 1 in 3 American adults suffer from bruxism, or excessive teeth grinding, and jaw clenching. There are two types – awake bruxism and sleep bruxism. What follows is a rundown of sleep bruxism, which is teeth grinding in sleep.
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Bruxism is a condition in which you grind your teeth or clench your jaws. A night guard is a transparent thin device you wear over the biting surface of the teeth while sleeping. It prevents touching of the top and bottom teeth. Night Guards are used to relaxing your jaws while you are sleeping and prevent the grinding of teeth and clenching. Night Guards are mainly used as mouth guards for teeth grinding or bruxism. Night Guards for bruxism or teeth grinding are usually made up of hard, durable, heat-cured plastic. There are other varieties of mouth guards for teeth grinding that use regular and soft acrylic-based materials to increase patient comfort. You can brush the night guard using a toothbrush and toothpaste and then rinse it with warm water. Dr. Orfaly, your trusted family dentist in Fisher & Orfaly Dental, Salem, MA, may also give you an antimicrobial solution in which you can soak your night guards to remove any foreign organisms.
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Diagnosing sleep bruxism has long posed a challenge to doctors and patients. While a dentist will provide the most comprehensive diagnosis, patients can also detect symptoms of bruxism or teeth grinding in several ways:

Self-Diagnosis: Patients can often detect their own bruxism or teeth grinding symptoms such as tooth mobility and wear, hypersensitivity, mouth abrasions, and jaw muscle soreness.
Feedback From Others: The most common form of diagnosis of bruxism or teeth grinding is through feedback from housemates and loved ones. Be proactive and ask your mates about the frequency and intensity of your teeth grinding.

Tutti Fruiti

February 16, 2022

As a person with anxiety of going to any doctors or dentists it took me a while to find the right dentist for me. Without a question I have found the right place. Not only does Dr.Ofaly have a great personality and is just a cool person in general but as a dentist you literally couldn’t find one that is as gentle and patient as him. He knows of my issues and couldn’t be more understanding. Also every procedure I have had their has been painless and so smooth. If your looking for a new dentist please trust me and just give him a try and I promise like me you will become a longtime patient. You really couldn’t be in better hands!

John Lang

January 30, 2022

My wife and I have been going to Fisher & Orfaly for more than 20 years. Their focus is a dental experience based in personalized, professional care. From cleanings to crowns, we’ve had it all. They always provide a pleasant atmosphere and pain-free service. Happy to report that my son recently started as a second generation patient. To Dr. Orfaly and his team I say keep up the great work.

Thomas Darsney

January 26, 2022

My experience at Dr Fisher and Orfaly’s office has been the same since day one ,ten years ago when urged from my mom to transfer over to the Hawthorne Blvd office.Wonderful! Truly.From the time you walk in, the atmosphere is like a small community of people you have come to know. Amy who has been my dental hygienist for years now makes my time enjoyable with a new topic of conversation to cover every time.Dr. Orfaly has handled my dental care for sometime now , from many, to all procedures, I couldn’t be happier. Yet more than just wanting to get it right with my teeth, he wants to know how you are, how your mom is ,and of course your favorite sports teams . Again, it’s a community I would recommend to any and all .Tom D

Thomas Levenberg

January 25, 2022

I have had great results with Dr. Orfaly. He is a real pro - a great communicator, practical and bright. His staff is friendly, his hygienists do a great job and his appointments run on time.

Andy Knapp

January 25, 2022

Our family has gotten our dental care (routine and otherwise) from Fisher & Orfaly for over 20 years. They have, without exception, provided compassionate, clearly explained, patient-centered, top-quality dental services and I recommend them without reservation. One of my adult children even went to them for an evaluation of some complicated work they had done elsewhere (out of state). I especially appreciate the measures their practice took during the pandemic — including installing hospital-grade air filtration — to maximize safety for patients and staff.

Andrea Cannella

January 24, 2022

Professional practice with friendly staff.

Corbin Bettencourt

January 24, 2022

Who likes to go to the dentist? Fear no more. Dr. Orfaly and his staff provide an environment of ease and professionalism that relieve the jitters that so many feel during visits to the dentist. Whether a routine check up or more complex procedure, our experiences have been most positive.

mary orne

January 24, 2022

Best care ever. Always caring and gentle. Been going for years would highly recommend.

Kathy Surette

January 23, 2022

I have been a patient at Dr. Orfali’s for over 20 years. He has always been professional and never performs anything that is not needed. I’ve had a couple of crowns and he has done a great job. My adult son was told by a dentist that he had about $5000 worth of work to be done on his mouth. Dr. Orfali reviewed his x-rays and he did not need any work. I would trust Dr. Orfali with any of your dental needs. He will always be truthful.

Erin Pararas

January 23, 2022

Dr. Orfaly is a fantastic dentist. He is professional, caring, and responsive. I appreciate him squeezing me in on short notice and following up to check on me after-hours. The technicians are great, too. I highly recommend his practice.

Causes Of Sleep Bruxism

Occlusal Factors/Bite Configuration: Occlusion is defined as ‘contact between teeth.’ Occlusal interferences (discrepancies with the normal path of the bite) were historically believed to be the sole cause of bruxism or teeth grinding.
Stress and Other Psychosocial Factors: While bruxism or teeth grinding is generally thought to be caused by stress, evidence is still inconclusive. Emotional stress, including that caused by anxiety, frustration, aggressiveness, and hyperactivity, has been closely examined as a cause for bruxism or teeth grinding.
Medication: While not conclusive, certain drugs (dopamine agonists, dopamine antagonists, tricyclic antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, alcohol, cocaine, and amphetamines) have been studied to cause bruxism or teeth grinding.
Genetics: While genetic markers have not been identified, 21-50% of those with sleep bruxism or teeth grinding have a direct family member who also had the condition as a child.

What Happens If I Don’t Put On A Night Guard?

Night guards protect you from sleep bruxism. Not wearing a night guard can cause frequent clenching and grinding of teeth which can eventually lead to any of the following outcomes:

Chronic Headache: Chronic headaches can be caused by frequent clenching and grinding of teeth. If you frequently wake up with a headache, then bruxism might be the cause. Pressure on the jaw due to clenching and grinding of teeth can cause headaches.
Teeth Wear: When the enamel starts wearing down, the teeth underneath are prone to cavities, fracture, crack, and damage. The teeth wear can be detected by your dentist during dental checkups and mouth examinations.
TMJ: Temporomandibular Joint disorder affects the muscles to chew and joints connecting your jaw and skull. While the disorder can be caused by various factors, one of the reasons is bruxism.
Tooth pain: If you experience tooth pain and do not have cavities, the pain may be due to bruxism.

How Are Night Guards Made?

While night guards are available over the counter, it is always advisable to get custom-made guards from your dentist. Because the dentist can advise you of the best-suited guards depending on your jaw measurements.
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At Fisher & Orfaly Dental in Salem, MA, impressions of your upper and lower teeth will be taken using Digital Dental Impressions. A plaster cast is made using the impressions and sent to the dental lab. The dental laboratory will create a custom-made guard. Dr. Orfaly will check the fitting on your teeth. Any adjustments required will be made before you carry them home.
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Management and treatment of bruxism include solutions that both help manage bruxism activity but also the negative physical effects of it.

Dental Guards or Occlusal Splints offer protection of teeth against bruxism but does not reduce bruxism activity.

To fabricate your night guard, we will take accurate dental impressions that a professional dental laboratory will use to construct the dental night guard.