Occlusal guard vs. Night Guard, which is the better option?

Selecting the right guard for your mouth is essential, but it can be confusing with many options available. While you always have the opportunity to consult your dentist, this occlusal guard vs. night guard comparison will help you better understand each of them so you can select the best one for yourself.

"We are all bodies of water, guarding the mystery of our depths, but some of us have more to guard than others."

Deborah Smith

What is an occlusal guard?

Occlusal guards is a removable mouth guard that goes over your teeth to prevent damage caused by grinding or clenching your teeth. These guards are good against bruxism as they cannot stop this issue, but using the guard can minimize bruxism's effects on your teeth.

What are the benefits of the occlusal guard?

• More comfortable sleeping experience

Using an occlusal guard provides a more comfortable sleeping experience, as this guard is perfectly made to fit your teeth. It is thin and prevents issues like neck pain, nerve damage, and headaches. By controlling all of these issues, the occlusal guard can enhance your overall lifestyle as you will be getting better sleep than before.

• Grinding and clenching prevention to prevent tooth fracture and decay

Bruxism is an issue that can lead to tooth decay and fracture in the worst case because of the grinding and clenching issues. Wearing the Occlusal guard stops your teeth from direct contact with one another, thus preventing any tooth decay or chances of fracture.

• Good for daytime

The occlusal guards are great for wearing during the day. It is highly beneficial for individuals with severe bruxism who go through this problem during the day. You can even get a custom-made unit from your dentist that will be thinner and less visible than other mouthguards to wear during the day.

What is a night guard?

A night guard is made specifically to be worn while sleeping. These are recommended for patients with teeth-grinding issues while they sleep, often because of anxiety and stress. Night guards are effective against clenching that, if left untreated, can make surgery necessary. So, a night guard can be very effective in the longer run.

What are the benefits of night guard?

• Improved sleep quality

People who go through stress and anxiety and clench their teeth during the night can never get good quality sleep. Such individuals often wake up from jaw pain. So, using a night guard while sleeping can provide much better sleep quality with better quality rest and higher chances of waking up fresh in the morning.

• Decreased jaw pain and headache prevention

Headaches and jaw pain are common among people who go through bruxism as it puts pressure on the nerves. A soft and protective night guard will help reduce the pressure on nerves resulting in fewer headaches and jaw pains.

• Snoring prevention

Clenching can create irregular breathing patterns that will result in snoring because of the narrowing of the air passage. With support from the night guard, the jaws are well separated, preventing snoring as the airway stays open enough.

Occlusal guard vs. Nightguard, which is a better option?

With these guards being pretty similar, you might be confused about which one to select. If you have occasional teeth grinding issues, you may not need any of them, but the long-term bruxism can lead to severe dental issues. If you only go through this problem at night, you are good with the night guards.

However, if you also have this habit of grinding your teeth during the day, you must go for occlusal guards. The occlusal guard also makes a better choice because of its aesthetics and overall feel.

Conclusion

Occlusal guards and night guards are often confused as these are pretty similar. However, their applications and usage are much different. We hope that this occlusal guard vs. night guard comparison has helped you decide to select one for yourself.

Contact your dentist in Union City, Dr. Zafar Sayeedi, at Noble Dental Care to know more about Occlusal guard vs. Night Guard.

This media/content or any other on this website does not prescribe, recommend, or prevent any treatment or procedure. Therefore, we highly recommend that you get the advice of a qualified dentist or other medical practitioners regarding your specific dental condition.