Bite Guards & Appliances
Appliance Therapy and Night Guards In Courtenay
At Acreview Dental Clinic, we offer our clients sport and night guards in Courtenay. We can also assess risk for obstructive sleep apnea and provide our clients with appliances that are meant to benefit people suffering from this disruptive disorder. After many years of treating patients in our community, we are confident that we can offer you the right services for your needs. With the help of our professional team, we will address your oral issues and find a solution that works for you.
To learn more about our services you can peruse our FAQ or contact us . If you are ready to book an appointment, you can request one online ! We can offer you:
Kois Deprogrammer
The Kois deprogrammer is a removable, retainer-like appliance that allows your dentist to evaluate the stability of your bite. Every time you chew or swallow, you must adapt your jaw to the best fit for your teeth. If this fit is not ideal for your jaw joint and muscles, you will be at higher risk for experiencing facial pain. It could also lead to worn, broken, or loose teeth. The Kois deprogrammer removes the influence of your teeth from your chewing system by preventing them from interlocking and by reinforcing the position of your existing bite. This allows your lower jaw to relax into a more comfortable position. Dr. Karamanis or Dr. Burry will be able to provide you with treatment options for maintaining your bite in this new, relaxed position.
Night Guards
Night guards are dental appliances that are worn to help treat a common dental condition known as bruxism or teeth grinding, which commonly occurs at night.
During clinical examination and careful assessment at our office, Dr. Burry and Dr. Karamanis visually inspect the mouth for physical indications of bruxism. Some of the signs include:
Abnormal wear patterns on the teeth
Broken or worn dental restorations
Fractured teeth
Tooth sensitivity
Worn tooth enamel that can expose the inner structures of the teeth
Soft-tissue trauma (cheek bites, sores, areas of chronic irritation)
At times, patients may experience headaches, earaches and chronic facial pain. Once the severity of bruxism is determined, our doctors will make appropriate treatment recommendations. Often this will include custom impressions and fabrication of night guards worn by the patient to minimize the damage to the oral cavity that has been caused by grinding.
Sports Guards
Accidents or injuries to the mouth or teeth can happen during any type of physical activity. Sports guards are mouth protectors worn by athletes that participate in contact sports (football, ice hockey, basketball), non-contact sports (gymnastics) or any type of recreational activities (skateboarding, biking) that carry the risk of injury. Sports guards can help cushion a facial injury and prevent damage to the teeth and injury to the mouth.
Over our many years in the dental practice, we have fabricated custom sports guards for athletes. These range in age from youth to adult. In addition, Acreview Dental Clinic has provided custom-fit mouth guards for team members of the Glacier Kings.
During careful examination and assessment, many important issues are addressed prior to sports guard fabrication. Inquiry regarding the type of sport being played, the age of the athlete, the possibility of providing space for erupting teeth and previous dental injury experienced by the patient will occur. Based on the findings, sports guards are fabricated with the appropriate type of material for proper protection, adaptation, retention, comfort, and stability.
Sleep Apnea Appliances
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects about 24% of men and 9% of women to some degree. Sleep apnea is a condition where your breathing may pause or stop for a time while you are sleeping. OSA can be a serious and sometimes, even life-threatening problem. The best treatment for diagnosed OSA is the regular use of a continuous positive air pressure (CPAP) device. If you have attempted to use CPAP to manage your sleep apnea and find it intolerable to use, oral appliance therapy (OAT) with a Sleep Apnea Appliance is the next best treatment option.
OAT assists breathing during sleep by keeping the tongue and jaw in a forward position, thereby allowing the airway to remain open. OAT has effectively treated many patients. With treatment, your symptoms can be controlled, allowing you to sleep more peacefully and wake feeling refreshed and alert. Call us today to schedule a consultation to discuss your suitability for a sleep apnea appliance.
To determine if you are at risk for obstructive sleep apnea, here are a few questions to consider:
Have you been told that you snore?
Do you know if you stop breathing or has anyone witnessed you stop breathing while you are asleep?
Are you often tired during the day?
Do you have high blood pressure or are you on medication to control high blood pressure?
If you answered “yes” to two or more questions, you are at risk for obstructive sleep apnea. It is recommended that you contact your primary care provider to discuss a possible sleep disorder.
TMJ Appliances
TMJ appliances are devices worn to help treat a variety of temporomandibular joint disorders. TMD myofascial pain, or pain in the muscles of the jaw, is the most common temporomandibular disorder. The etiology of myofascial pain is multifactorial and as a result TMJ appliances are varied, depending on the severity of the problem.