Grinding Your Teeth at Night Is Damaging Them. A Custom Guard Stops It.
Most people who grind their teeth at night have no idea it is happening until the damage shows up at a dental exam. Grand Prairie Family Dental, located in Grand Prairie TX, offers custom-fitted night guards under Dr. Behrooz Khademazad, DDS, who has practiced at this location since August 28, 1988. His approach to bruxism is clinical and conservative: identify the cause, protect the teeth, and address jaw function before grinding leads to cracked teeth or a failed restoration.
If you wake up with headaches, jaw soreness, or have been told your teeth are wearing down, those are the most common signs that nighttime grinding is happening without your awareness. Patients from Fairhavens and Garden Oaks come to Grand Prairie Family Dental with exactly those symptoms. Most leave with a clear diagnosis and a custom guard that eliminates the problem before it requires restorative treatment.
What Is Bruxism and Why Does It Matter
Bruxism is the clinical term for habitual teeth grinding or clenching, most commonly during sleep. The forces generated during bruxism can exceed normal chewing forces by a significant margin, which is why even moderate grinding causes enamel wear, tooth fractures, and jaw pain over time. The American Dental Association identifies bruxism as a primary contributor to premature tooth wear and a leading cause of cracked and failing restorations in adult patients.
Left unaddressed, bruxism progresses from surface wear to sensitivity, cracked cusps, and eventually tooth loss when the damage reaches the nerve or the structural integrity of the tooth is compromised. A custom night guard stops the damage at the earliest stage before any of that progression occurs.
Signs You May Need a Night Guard
Bruxism is almost entirely a sleep behavior, which means most patients do not realize they are doing it until symptoms appear or a general dentist identifies the wear patterns at an exam. Dr. Khademazad looks for bruxism signs at every comprehensive exam and asks about the following symptoms at each visit:
- Morning headaches or facial soreness that improve through the day
- Jaw pain, stiffness, or a clicking sound when opening and closing the mouth
- Teeth that look flattened, chipped, or shorter than they used to be
- Increased tooth sensitivity that does not correspond to a specific cavity or restoration
- Soreness in the neck and shoulders that worsens overnight
- A sleeping partner who has heard you grinding during the night
Patients from Dalworth Hills and Country Club Park who come in after recognizing these symptoms consistently find that a custom night guard resolves the morning pain and prevents further wear within the first few weeks of consistent use. Dr. Khademazad evaluates the full bite and jaw function before recommending a guard to make sure the underlying cause is addressed alongside the symptoms.
How a Custom Night Guard Is Made
The process for a custom night guard at Grand Prairie Family Dental takes two appointments. At the first appointment Dr. Khademazad takes a precise digital scan or impression of your teeth and evaluates your bite and jaw position. The scan is sent to a dental laboratory where the guard is fabricated to exact specifications.
At the second appointment the finished guard is fitted, adjusted for bite balance, and you receive complete instructions for wearing and caring for it. Dr. Khademazad checks the fit of existing guards at every subsequent dental exam and makes adjustments as needed to ensure the guard continues to fit correctly as your bite changes over time.
