Gonzales Dental Care

Night Guards & TMJ Treatment in Gonzales, CA

If you wake up with a sore jaw, morning headaches, or teeth that look shorter than they used to, your sleep may be hard on your mouth.

Grinding: the damage you sleep through

Nighttime grinding (bruxism) puts enormous force on your teeth for hours at a time, and you’re unconscious for all of it. Over the years it flattens chewing surfaces, chips edges, loosens fillings, cracks teeth, and wears enamel thin enough to cause constant sensitivity. Stress makes it worse — and few people are grinding less than they used to.

A custom night guard doesn’t stop the grinding; it makes the grinding harmless. The guard takes the wear so your enamel doesn’t, and it cushions the jaw muscles that ache in the morning. Made from precise impressions of your teeth, it’s slim enough to sleep in comfortably — a different animal from the bulky sports guards at the drugstore.

The economics are blunt: a night guard costs a fraction of a single crown, and unprotected grinders rarely stop at cracking just one tooth.

Jaw pain, clicking, and TMJ

The temporomandibular joint — the hinge just in front of each ear — takes the brunt of clenching and grinding. When it’s unhappy, you feel it as jaw pain or fatigue, clicking or popping when you open, headaches, ear-area pain, or a jaw that occasionally catches.

We start conservative, because conservative usually works: an exam of your bite and joint, a guard fitted to take the pressure off, and practical habit coaching (softer diet during flare-ups, catching daytime clenching). If your case needs more than that, we’ll say so and point you to the right specialist. Aching mornings aren’t something to push through — call (831) 240-0865.

Questions we hear a lot

How do I know if I grind my teeth at night?
Most grinders don’t know until a partner hears it or a dentist sees it. The evidence shows up as flattened or chipped edges, unexplained sensitivity, morning jaw soreness, and headaches at the temples. We check for these signs at every exam.
Why not just buy a boil-and-bite guard at the store?
Store guards are bulky, fit loosely, and some people chew through them in months — a few even make clenching worse. A custom guard is made from impressions of your teeth: slimmer, secure, balanced against your bite, and built to last years instead of months.
How long does a custom night guard last?
Typically several years, depending on how hard you grind. Bring it to your cleanings — we’ll check the wear and adjust it. When your guard is wearing down, remember: it’s doing that instead of your enamel.
Can TMJ problems be cured?
Honest answer: managed is the right word more often than cured. The good news is that most jaw-joint pain responds well to conservative care — a properly fitted guard, habit changes, and time. Surgery is a last resort and rarely needed; we start with the gentle things that usually work.
Is a night guard covered by insurance?
Many dental plans cover night guards partially, some don’t at all. We’ll check your specific plan and give you the real number before we take impressions.

Ready when you are.

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Request an appointment (831) 240-0865