In our fast-paced society, with the stresses of work, family, health issues, finances and the struggling economy, many people take out their stress on their teeth.  Some signs of nighttime teeth grinding can be: waking up with sore jaws, frequent headaches, generalized pain from one side of your face, tightness in the jaws, sensitivity of the majority of your teeth or your teeth just ache in general.

Some studies have shown that people can put up to 3-4 hundred pounds of pressure on teeth when grinding or clenching!  Imagine the long-term effects this could have on your teeth.  If you look in the mirror at your teeth and you see signs of wear (see photo above), it’s time to ask your dentist what options there are on having a mouth guard made. 

A mouth guard can help protect your teeth from the damaging forces of grinding and clenching.  A mold of your teeth are made at the first visit.  The molds are sent to a dental lab where a form-fit mouth guard is made. Then in approximately 2 weeks, your dental office will fit you for the guard and make necessary adjustments.

Healthy teeth and gums are crucial for optimal oral health. Don’t let offenders like decay, gum disease, and oral cancer rob you of a fantastic smile. Dr. Stovall and Dr. Cheng can  stop these smile-stealers with comprehensive general  dental care. 

We recommend that you come in for a thorough checkup and cleaning every six months so that we can prevent dental problems in the early stage, before they create significant damage. In your checkup, if we find that you suffer with frequent headaches or jaw pain, we’ll study your jaw position and may recommend an oral appliance to relieve TMJ dysfunction or teeth grinding. For snorers, we offer an oral appliance that positions the jaw forward to allow free airflow and alleviate snoring and sleep apnea. Our athletic patients will benefit from a custom-made mouthguard to prevent oral injuries in the game and on the field. Dr. Stovall and Dr. Cheng can also check wisdom teeth and perform minor oral surgeries in the comfort of our office. So whatever your general or preventive dental need, we have you covered!

Make dental care a priority. Take a moment to review our general and preventive dentistry options, and then call our Fort Worth office to schedule your appointment with Dr. Stovall or Dr. Cheng. We provide quality dental care to residents of Granbury Weatherford, Benbrook, and surrounding areas.