- 5828 N Oracle Rd, Suite #100, Tucson, AZ 85704
- 520-293-2166
If you wake up with a sore jaw, sensitive teeth, or unexplained headaches, you may be grinding or clenching your teeth while you sleep. Over time, bruxism can wear down enamel, damage dental work, and place added stress on the jaw joints and muscles.
At Smile Perfection in Tucson, AZ, we take a more comprehensive approach. Rather than simply making a night guard, Dr. Sharad Pandhi and our team first evaluate your bite, TMJ, symptoms, and possible causes of grinding or clenching. When an appliance is appropriate, we digitally scan, design, and fabricate it in-house to address your specific needs.
Our goal is not simply to protect your teeth from grinding, but to recommend the right solution for what is contributing to it. Depending on your needs, treatment may involve a night guard, TMJ splint, bite adjustment, airway-related care, or orthodontic treatment.
A bruxism mouth guard, sometimes called a night guard or splint, is a custom dental appliance designed to help protect your teeth and support a healthier relationship between your bite, jaw joints, and muscles.
A guard does not necessarily stop grinding or clenching. Instead, the type of appliance we recommend depends on what is causing the problem and what needs to be protected or corrected.
Many patients do not realize they grind their teeth until we identify signs during an exam.
Common findings can include worn or flattened teeth, chipped enamel, tooth sensitivity, jaw pain, tight chewing muscles, and morning headaches. Excessive wear or discomfort in the TMJ may also indicate that further evaluation is needed.
Grinding and clenching can sometimes be associated with sleep-disordered breathing or airway concerns.
Signs such as acid erosion, a scalloped tongue, mouth breathing, certain wear patterns, or airway changes may prompt further evaluation, especially when combined with symptoms like snoring, fatigue, non-restful sleep, or morning headaches.
Smile Perfection uses digital scans to create a precise model of your teeth and bite. We then design and fabricate your appliance in-house based on your individual needs.
Depending on your diagnosis, this may be a simple bite guard, a TMJ splint, or another customized appliance. Because we manage the process ourselves, we can make adjustments more precisely and address concerns specific to your bite, muscles, and jaw joints.
Your first step is a comprehensive evaluation of your teeth, bite, TMJ, and symptoms. We also look for possible contributing factors such as airway concerns, stress, habits, or bite discrepancies.
Once the underlying cause has been identified, Dr. Pandhi will discuss the treatment options that may be appropriate. In cases involving severe TMJ discomfort, significant tooth wear, or acute muscle pain, a temporary appliance may sometimes be used while the underlying cause is still being evaluated.
A properly designed appliance may help:
Because Smile Perfection designs and fabricates these appliances in-house, the appliance can be customized to the specific problem we are trying to address.
Bruxism treatment starts with understanding what is causing the problem. Dr. Pandhi evaluates your bite, TMJ, airway, symptoms, and dental health before recommending the next step.
Depending on your needs, treatment may include a custom appliance or additional care to address contributing bite or sleep-related concerns.
We welcome patients from throughout Tucson, including Casas Adobes and Catalina Foothills.
Not necessarily. An appliance primarily helps protect your teeth and manage the forces created by grinding or clenching. At Smile Perfection, we also work to identify the underlying cause before determining the most appropriate treatment.
Yes. We take digital scans and design and fabricate our night guards, splints, and TMJ appliances in-house. This allows us to customize the appliance to your bite and the specific concerns we are addressing.
Cost depends on the type of appliance and the condition being treated. A simple bite guard is typically around $550–$600, while a TMJ splint may be approximately $800–$850. More complex treatment may involve additional care, which Dr. Pandhi will discuss with you after your evaluation.
Coverage depends on your individual plan. Some dental plans may provide benefits for certain bite guards, while appliances used specifically for TMJ treatment are often not covered. Our team can help you understand your available benefits.
Our bite guards are made from durable hard plastic and typically last around two years, although this can vary depending on the amount of grinding and changes in your bite.
Possibly. Periodic adjustments may be needed, particularly early on, to improve the relationship between your bite, jaw muscles, and TMJ. We encourage patients to bring their appliance to hygiene visits so we can check the fit, inspect its condition, and clean it in our ultrasonic machine.
Clean both surfaces with a soft toothbrush and water. If mineral or calculus buildup develops, the appliance can be soaked once a week for 10–15 minutes in a diluted white vinegar solution, then thoroughly rinsed and allowed to air-dry in a ventilated case. Commercial ultrasonic cleaners may also be used.
If you are experiencing tooth wear, jaw discomfort, morning headaches, or other signs of grinding and clenching, the first step is understanding why it is happening.
Call Smile Perfection at 520-293-2166 to schedule an evaluation with Dr. Sharad Pandhi and our team.
