Removable Dental Appliances in Federal Way WA

Teeth can fall victim to any number of problems. Some are the result of mere negligence, and others completely beyond our control, like genetics or accidental mishap. For all the reasons that teeth need dental attention, there is a variety of different ways to address these problems. In certain cases, your Federal Way WA dentist may suggest removable dental appliances. But what are they?

Oral appliances are simple, non-invasive devices that treat various conditions. They are typically designed from transparent plastic material and rest securely on the upper and bottom arch of the mouth. Oral appliances can address sleep apnea, nighttime teeth grinding, bite issues, or TMJ disorders. At Marine Hills Dentistry, we provide customized oral appliances based on your preferences and treatment goals.

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Oral Appliances in Federal Way WA

An oral appliance is a device that must be worn in your mouth to protect your oral structures or correct dental issues. They are created based on impressions of your mouth.

Appliances like snore guards keep your jaw in a forward position while you sleep. As a result, they prevent your oral tissues from sliding back into your throat to block the air passages. These appliances can be custom-made for your unique oral needs. They fit like a retainer and stabilize your bite and teeth in the desired position.

Benefits of Oral Appliances:

• They are often removable and replaceable devices.
• They do not involve an invasive procedure.
• They offer optimum comfort.
• They are designed to fit every curve of your unique oral composition.
• They are easy to carry around, especially when you are traveling.

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Types of Oral Appliances

Snore Guards:

Snore guards can help ease mild to moderate symptoms of sleep apnea. They look and function like a mouthguard. A snore guard works by realigning the jaw to the correct position and helping ease the strain on the muscles that cause snoring. When a patient wears a snore guard, it prevents the obstruction of the airways.

Night (Occlusal) Guards:

Some people may unconsciously grind their teeth in the night while they sleep. This can eventually damage the teeth, but of course, there’s no way for a person to control their reflexes while unconscious. A night guard in Federal Way WA is a device a person can wear at bedtime to protect their teeth once the involuntary grinding reflex begins.

An occlusal guard is also referred to as a night or bruxism guard. It protects against bruxism, the grinding or clenching of the teeth that takes place during sleep. When the jaw puts an extreme amount of pressure on the teeth, it can damage them and cause painful symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorder. Occlusal guards can be customized to fit your mouth’s exact specifications. They help prevent jaw strain, fatigue, pain, and the chipping or breaking of teeth.

Sports Mouthguards:

Protecting your teeth is important. Physical mishaps are always a danger to teeth. Accidents happen, people trip or fall, but when it comes to sports, this danger to teeth rises exponentially. Falls, collisions, and many other mishaps during sports all have the potential to chip, damage, or even knock teeth out.

A sports mouthguard forms a protective shield over the upper teeth, reducing your risk of injury. Dental injuries are the most common orofacial injuries incurred from sports activities. In addition to injuries to teeth that may need restorations or replacements, an impact to the base of the skull caused due to a blow to the chin in a vertical direction may result in a concussion. A sports mouthguard can play a significant preventive role in both types of injuries.

CLICK HERE to learn more about how mouth guards can help protect your teeth if you play sports.

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Full Set of Dental Braces

The usual cause for a full set of dental braces is that, after a dental examination, it becomes evident that many teeth are growing in at different angles, causing issues with spacing. The result will be an almost entirely crooked set of teeth. The sheer number of problem teeth in this situation necessitates complete coverage to move as many teeth as possible into a better alignment.

But in some cases, many teeth will be perfectly fine, and only a few teeth will have any problems with crowding or improper alignment. In such cases, a removable dental appliance is a much more sensible solution. These devices come in a few different forms, but they all serve a similar purpose. This is to focus on a particular set of teeth to apply pressure and move them into a slightly different position. They come in a few varieties, but, as the name suggests, these can be removed should you desire for brushing, flossing, or eating.

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The Retainer

This may be issued after braces have been removed, or as a substitute for braces in less severe cases. A retainer is a device made of wire and a guard that has been fitted to specific teeth in your mouth. Like braces, it holds select teeth in position and applies force to gradually move them into new positions.

Our dental team may recommend this for the last few remaining teeth after braces have done most of the work, or suggest this instead if most of your teeth are already in a good position.

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Removable Space Maintainers

When a child is losing baby teeth and growing in permanent teeth, this can often result in uneven growth, as some teeth are lost while others are replaced. A space maintainer is a device designed to temporarily provide and maintain space in the mouth so that new permanent teeth can grow in properly without being crowded by other teeth in the area.

Tounge Thrust Dental Guards

Some people can, during sleep, shift their tongue in their mouth in such a way that it pushes against teeth and inadvertently applies pressure. Surprisingly, this can have a similar effect to braces. When pressure is applied all night, every night, it can eventually move teeth into new positions. A tongue thrust dental guard is something that sleepers can wear to act as a barrier between the tongue and teeth and prevent this nightly pressure from actually shifting your teeth.

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These removable dental appliances can treat a variety of different conditions, but as with all dental tools, they are delicate and must be treated with care. By using them correctly, you can enjoy a healthier, happier mouth. Call our team a Marine Hills Dentistry with any questions you have.