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Mouth Guards

Mouth Guards in Sunset Hills, MO

Protect Your Teeth From Grinding, Clenching, and Wear

Your teeth go through a lot each day. For some patients, extra pressure from grinding, clenching, sports, or everyday wear can lead to chips, cracks, sensitivity, jaw soreness, or damage to dental work. At Sunset Tower Family Dentistry, we provide mouth guard care for patients in Sunset Hills who want to protect their smiles and support long-term oral health.

A mouth guard may be helpful if you wake up with jaw soreness, notice worn teeth, play sports, or have crowns, veneers, bonding, or other dental work you want to protect. Dr. Vince Riggio can evaluate your teeth, bite, and symptoms to help determine whether a mouth guard makes sense for your needs.

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Why Patients Ask About Mouth Guards

Many patients do not realize they grind or clench their teeth until they start noticing symptoms. Others want added protection for sports or physical activities. In some cases, a mouth guard may also be recommended after restorative or cosmetic dental care to help reduce pressure on teeth and dental work.

Patients often ask about mouth guards because of:

Jaw soreness or facial tension
Worn, flattened, or chipped teeth
Tooth sensitivity
Nighttime grinding or clenching
Sports or impact-related tooth protection
Cracked teeth or repeated dental wear
Crowns, veneers, bonding, or other dental restorations

If you are not sure whether your symptoms are related to grinding, clenching, or another concern, an exam is the best place to start.

Mouth Guards for Grinding and Clenching

Grinding and clenching can happen during the day or while you sleep. Over time, that pressure can wear down enamel, strain the jaw, chip teeth, or place stress on existing dental work.

A mouth guard creates a protective layer between the teeth. While it does not stop every cause of grinding or clenching, it can help reduce direct tooth-to-tooth pressure and protect your smile from ongoing wear.

If you wake up with jaw soreness, headaches, tightness, or sensitive teeth, Dr. Riggio can look for signs of grinding and talk with you about whether a mouth guard may be helpful.

Mouth Guards for Active Patients

Dental injuries can happen during sports, fitness activities, or other situations where impact is possible. A mouth guard can help protect the teeth, lips, cheeks, and dental work from injury.

If you or your child plays sports or participates in an activity where tooth injury is a concern, our team can discuss mouth guard options and help you understand what type of protection may be appropriate.

Protecting Restorative and Cosmetic Dental Work

Mouth guards can be especially helpful for patients who have invested in their smiles. Crowns, veneers, bonding, bridges, and other dental work can benefit from added protection if grinding, clenching, or impact is a concern.

Dr. Riggio’s advanced training in cosmetic dentistry, dental implants, and complex restorative care helps him evaluate mouth guards with the full smile in mind. The goal is to help protect your teeth, support your dental work, and reduce the risk of avoidable wear or damage.

What to Expect at a Mouth Guard Visit

Your visit will usually begin with a conversation about your symptoms, habits, dental history, and goals. We may ask whether you notice jaw soreness, tooth sensitivity, headaches, broken dental work, or signs of wear.

Dr. Riggio can evaluate your teeth, bite, jaw comfort, and existing dental work to better understand what is happening. If a mouth guard is recommended, our team will explain how it should be used, how to care for it, and when to bring it with you for future visits.

If we see signs that another dental concern may be involved, we will explain what we find and talk through your options.

No Insurance? Ask About the Sunset Advantage Plan

For patients without dental insurance, Sunset Tower Family Dentistry offers the Sunset Advantage Plan, an in-house membership option designed to support preventive care and provide savings on additional treatment.

If you have questions about the plan, our team can explain how it works and help you decide whether it may be a good fit for your needs.

Mouth Guard Care in Sunset Hills

Sunset Tower Family Dentistry provides mouth guard care for patients in Sunset Hills, South County, and nearby St. Louis communities. Whether you are concerned about grinding, clenching, tooth wear, sports injuries, or protecting dental work, our team is here to help you understand your options.

Frequently Asked questions

How do I know if I need a mouth guard?

A mouth guard may be helpful if you wake up with jaw soreness, notice worn or chipped teeth, grind or clench your teeth, play sports, or want to protect existing dental work. Dr. Riggio can evaluate your teeth, bite, and symptoms to see whether a mouth guard makes sense.

Can a mouth guard stop teeth grinding?

A mouth guard does not necessarily stop the cause of grinding or clenching, but it can help reduce direct tooth-to-tooth pressure. This may help protect teeth and dental work from ongoing wear.

What symptoms can be related to grinding or clenching?

Grinding or clenching may contribute to jaw soreness, facial tension, headaches, tooth sensitivity, worn teeth, chipped teeth, or cracked teeth. An exam can help determine whether your symptoms may be related to bite pressure or another dental concern.

Are mouth guards only for nighttime use?

Not always. Some patients use mouth guards for nighttime grinding or clenching, while others need protection for sports or physical activities. The right type of mouth guard depends on how and when your teeth need protection.

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