Procedures

Occlusal guards

Disadvantages & risks

• Occlusal guards can be costly; however, they are usually less expensive than even one crown, and can protect teeth from fracturing or wearing excessively. Some people find it difficult to get used to the bulk of an occlusal guard; however, they can usually be adjusted enough to make them comfortable.
• People who wear occlusal guards during the day (normally on the lower teeth) may notice alterations in speech while wearing the appliance, especially at first.
• "Anterior bite plates" (a type of occlusal guard that only covers the front teeth) can produce pain in the jaw joints, and are contraindicated in patients already suffering from joint pain or dysfunction. Anterior bite plates are generally indicated only for reducing tenderness in the jaw closing muscles. Even in patients who find relief with anterior bite plates, the device should not be worn more than eight hours per day, or the unsupported back teeth in each jaw may begin to move toward each other (i.e. "erupt"). Then, when the bite plate is out, the front teeth may no longer touch.
• Occlusal guards may temporarily increase salivary flow when they are first placed into the mouth. This is because your brain thinks they're food, and initiates the digestive process. This process is generally short-lived, however, and should not impede the ability to wear the device.
• Pets (dogs in particular) are attracted to occlusal guards, and will quickly destroy them if they get ahold of them.