How does the SleepRight Dental Guard stay in my mouth?
The SleepRight Dental Guard uses natural tissue retention between your lips, cheeks and tongue to be held in place. There are no clasps that attach or fasten to the teeth. The heat sensitive memory strap is soft, smooth and flexible. The front section of the strap lies comfortably between your lower lip and gum.
How do I know which Dental Guard is best for me?
The first thing you need to determine is whether you are going to wear the SleepRight Dental Guard during the day or at night. The Slim-Comfort is recommended for adults with sensitive gums or a small mouth. The Secure Comfort was designed from studying hundreds of models of patients in the dental surgery, therefore its design will fit most individuals and it is recommended for sleep. The SleepRight Dura-Comfort has larger, high profile wings on the sides to increase tissue retention during sleep. The SleepRight state of the art adjustable technology is the only product available on the market that offers the end user multiple adjustments without cutting, boiling or messy mixes to customize the appliance to their personal anatomy.
How does the SleepRight Dental Guard differ from the dentist's guard?
There are many different designs for dental guards available from the dental professional. The SleepRight Dental Guard is considered a posterior type splint/appliance, similar to many other posterior splints made in the dental surgery, without the much higher cost. It is also less bulky and allows easier breathing. The device comes with easy to follow care and fitting instructions and should only take a few minutes to fit. Additionally, you can have dental treatment or be in orthodontic treatment without having to buy a new appliance.
My young child grinds his/her teeth very badly. Will the SleepRight Dental Guard work for them?
We do not recommend the use of the SleepRight for children under 18.
Can I wear the SleepRight Dental Guard both at night and during the day?
Yes, however, you must adhere to the recommendations printed on the package and with the instructions
How long does the SleepRight Dental Guard last?
The SleepRight Dental Guard is triple injection moulded, to accommodate soft and hard tissues of the mouth. The bitepads, which slip comfortably between your teeth, are made of a hybrid plastic, which makes it very resilient and durable without being like hard acrylic or soft mouth guard material. The resiliency is the key, because it resists the excessive muscle activity by pushing the teeth apart. This will fatigue the muscles quickly and it is quite normal to have muscle soreness. This is called a neuromuscular event which triggers a cerebral response, which is your brain telling you that muscles are sore therefore stop the activity. In a perfect world, all it would take is one time for a person to quickly learn that they must keep their “lips together and teeth apart” to initiate the muscle relaxation process. If the teeth don’t touch, the muscles are not active, hence you have control over the muscle activity. For those who gain control quickly, the appliance can last indefinitely. For those who take longer, it’s a battle between the manmade materials and the 250 lbs per square inch bite forces that can potentially destroy those materials.
How long do I need to wear the SleepRight Dental Guard?
It depends on a number of factors, but the average time that someone needs to use the appliance is 4 to 12 weeks.
Why can't I wear the SleepRight Dental Guard for more than 12 hours in a 24-hour period?
Most people sleep around 6-8 hours a night and it is unlikely you would be able or want to continue to wear the device all day long. The goal should be to eliminate the need for the night guard as soon as possible.
My jaw feel like it is trying to realign itself for a while after I take the SleepRight Dental Guard out. Is this normal?
Yes, it is normal. When you are wearing the SleepRight Dental Guard the joints are decompressed and if you have modified your behavior to control the muscle activity, the lower jaw will relax to a more physiologically healthy position with a small shift forward. This is the realignment you are referring to. You wouldn’t need an intra oral appliance if everything were ideal. When this happens, your front teeth may be the only teeth that touch as you attempt to slowly close down. This reflects a small soft tissue change that rebounds or returns the lower to it’s former position as you talk and eat.
I have been wearing the SleepRight for one week and my jaw feels more painful than before. Is this normal?
It is quite normal to experience jaw muscle fatigue and soreness initially, as explained in the instructions. This discomfort can even radiate to your TMJ. The natural tendency to bite down does not go away immediately. The habitual clenching and grinding cycle is now interrupted and challenged by the resilient hybrid bitepads of the SleepRight Dental Guard.
Will the SleepRight Dental Guard help with my sleep apnoea?
Many people who suffer from bruxism also suffer from snoring and sleep apnoea. Although there are special appliances that can be made through your health care professional that are specifically designed to open the bite and pull the jaw forward, we have had a number of customers who have appreciated the reduction in snoring and sleep apnoea when wearing our SleepRight Dental Guard.
Disclaimer. The information is provided in good faith and is believed to be correct. However, no liability will be accepted for errors and omissions. June 2010