How do I care for my oral appliance?

Since they spend so much time in your mouth, it’s important to keep any type of oral appliance clean and protect it from damage. To get the most out of your appliance, we recommend following our guidelines: Brush and floss your teeth before putting in your oral appliance Rinse your appliance with cold water or mouthwash before putting it in and after taking it out. Avoid rinsing it with hot water, as this can cause the device to warp. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste to clean it. Regularly check for holes or other signs of damage. Bring your appliance to your dental appointments so we can ensure it fits and functions properly. Store your oral appliance in a hard container with ventilation to protect it and allow it to fully dry between uses. Remember, that oral appliances aren’t designed to last forever. If you’re approaching two years of use with the same appliance, consider visiting our offices for a replacement.

Oral Appliance Therapy in Novi, MI

Protecting Your Oral Health

At Premier Novi Dentistry, we provide oral appliance therapy to help protect patients’ teeth and treat conditions like obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Our custom-created oral appliances are suited for patients who play contact sports, grind their teeth while they sleep, or are suffering from OSA.

Our Novi dentist and team are here to create a treatment plan that meets your individual needs and protects your beautiful smile. Learn more about oral appliance therapy and how it could help you.

What Is an Oral Appliance?

Oral appliances are custom-made devices that fit perfectly into your mouth. Depending on your specific needs, your oral appliance will protect your teeth from athletic injuries, prevent teeth grinding, or help keep your airway open to ease sleep apnea symptoms. At Premier Novi Dentistry, we offer three types of oral appliances to ensure all patients get proper treatment for their health concerns.

Our Oral Appliance Treatments

Athletic Mouthguards

We love hearing about the sports that our patients participate in. However, it’s important that you’re protecting your smile while you’re out there having fun! Dental accidents are the most common sports-related injury, which is why we offer custom oral appliances, or athletic mouthguards, to help safeguard your teeth and gums. Our custom-fitted mouthguards can absorb shock and provide a barrier between your mouth and anything that it might come in contact with.

Nightguards for Bruxism

Teeth grinding can cause multiple oral health problems from excessive wear to cracked or broken teeth to severe jaw pain. At Premier Novi Dentistry, Dr. Bhatia designs nightguards for both the upper and lower arch of teeth to protect your teeth and jaw throughout the night. We use durable, high-quality materials when crafting our nightguards to withstand the pressure and friction of teeth grinding. While nightguards can protect your teeth, they can’t stop the behavior of teeth grinding. Our team advises getting a consultation for your teeth grinding as it can sometimes be the result of a larger issue.

Sleep Apnea Appliances

If you’ve been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, our Novi dental team can fit you for an oral sleep appliance. Obstructive sleep apnea is a disorder that disrupts a patient’s breathing and causes them to repeatedly wake up throughout the night. It occurs because the soft tissues in the back of the throat relax during sleep and block the airway, causing lapses in breathing.

Our oral appliances are designed to reposition the jaw to keep the airway open. Many patients seek out oral appliance therapy for sleep apnea after trying CPAP and not liking it. If your CPAP machine isn’t the treatment you were hoping for, contact us today for a custom sleep apnea appliance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Typically, a custom-made oral appliance can last as long as two years. Some patients may need to replace their oral appliances after six months due to excessive wear and tear, but this is rare. We recommend bringing your appliance with you to every dental checkup so Dr. Bhatia can make sure it’s in great condition and working properly.

Since they spend so much time in your mouth, it’s important to keep any type of oral appliance clean and protect it from damage. To get the most out of your appliance, we recommend following our guidelines:

Brush and floss your teeth before putting in your oral appliance
Rinse your appliance with cold water or mouthwash before putting it in and after taking it out. Avoid rinsing it with hot water, as this can cause the device to warp.
Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste to clean it.
Regularly check for holes or other signs of damage.
Bring your appliance to your dental appointments so we can ensure it fits and functions properly.
Store your oral appliance in a hard container with ventilation to protect it and allow it to fully dry between uses.

Remember, that oral appliances aren’t designed to last forever. If you’re approaching two years of use with the same appliance, consider visiting our offices for a replacement.

Visit Premier Novi Dentistry for Custom Oral Appliances

Don’t let your smile suffer from dental injuries or nighttime teeth grinding. With a custom oral appliance from Dr. Bhatia, your smile will remain intact and protected from any damage. To learn more about oral appliance therapy, schedule a consultation with Dr. Bhatia by calling our Novi dental practice at (248) 348-8808. You can also reach us by filling out our online contact form, and one of our team members will get back to you shortly.

Schedule Your Appointment