Most patients adjust within the first few nights. Your custom fit ensures minimal interference with your sleep routine.
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If you’ve been waking up with jaw tension, headaches, or worn-down teeth, you might be experiencing symptoms of TMJ disorder or nighttime grinding. At Bella Dental in Ventura, we offer personalized TMJ therapy and custom-fitted night guards to relieve discomfort, protect your teeth, and help you sleep more peacefully.
Our night guards are digitally designed and 3D-printed in-house with a top of the line SprintRay Printer, allowing for a comfortable fit and faster turnaround time than traditional dental labs.
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) connects your lower jaw to your skull and controls movements like chewing, talking, and yawning. When this joint becomes irritated or strained, it can lead to a condition called TMJ disorder.
Common symptoms include jaw pain or stiffness, headaches, clicking or popping sounds, limited jaw movement, and facial discomfort. TMJ issues are often related to nighttime teeth grinding (bruxism), stress, a misaligned bite, or trauma to the joint.
At Bella Dental, we evaluate your jaw function and symptoms in detail. If signs of TMJ dysfunction are present, we may recommend a custom-made night guard as part of your treatment to ease strain and protect your teeth.
Night guards are custom oral appliances worn while you sleep. They act as a buffer between your upper and lower teeth, absorbing the pressure from clenching or grinding and reducing stress on the jaw joint.
These appliances help protect your enamel from wear, reduce the risk of fractured teeth or dental work, and ease tension in the surrounding muscles. At Bella Dental in Ventura, our night guards are digitally crafted and 3D-printed for a secure, accurate fit that feels comfortable from the start.
You might not always realize you’re grinding your teeth at night. Many people only learn they’re doing so after dental damage or symptoms appear. You may benefit from a night guard if you:
During your visit, your Bella Dental provider will look for signs of grinding or clenching and help you decide if a night guard is appropriate for your needs.
When bruxism or TMJ dysfunction goes untreated, the effects can gradually become more serious. Teeth can become worn down, chipped, or cracked. Fillings and crowns may loosen or break. Constant strain on the jaw joint can also lead to long-term discomfort, joint inflammation, or difficulty opening and closing your mouth.
Over time, clenching can also contribute to gum recession or cause tooth sensitivity. By treating these issues early, we can help you avoid more complex and costly procedures later.
At Bella Dental, we combine digital technology with practical care to provide a quick, precise, and personalized experience.
Your visit starts with a conversation about your symptoms. We’ll check your jaw for tenderness or tightness, examine your bite, and look for signs of clenching or wear on your teeth. We may ask about your sleep habits, headaches, or any popping or stiffness in your jaw.
If we determine that a night guard could be helpful, we’ll take a quick, non-invasive digital scan of your teeth—no messy impressions required.
Your digital scan is used to design a night guard tailored to your bite. We then use our 3D printer to create your guard in-house using strong, biocompatible materials.
Once ready, you’ll return for a fitting, where we’ll check for comfort and make any small adjustments. Because your night guard is designed just for you, it should fit snugly without interfering with sleep.
Daily care will help your night guard stay clean and functional for years. After each use, rinse it with cool water and gently brush it with a soft toothbrush (without toothpaste). Let it dry completely before storing it in a protective case.
Avoid using hot water, which can warp the material, and never leave your guard in direct sunlight. Be sure to bring it to your dental checkups so we can evaluate wear and confirm it still fits correctly.
A professionally crafted night guard can protect your teeth, improve comfort, and help prevent future dental complications. Patients often report improved sleep and reduced jaw tension within the first few weeks of consistent use.
Benefits include:
Our team will make sure your night guard fits comfortably and continues to support your long-term oral health.
In some cases, we may recommend additional steps to support your jaw and prevent recurring discomfort. These could include mild bite adjustments, stress-reduction strategies, or further evaluation if symptoms persist. Our goal is to treat the cause, not just the symptoms, and help you enjoy lasting comfort.
You don’t have to live with daily jaw pain or worry about damaging your teeth at night. At Bella Dental in Ventura, our team makes it easy to get the care you need with clear explanations, advanced technology, and a focus on your long-term comfort.
Most patients adjust within the first few nights. Your custom fit ensures minimal interference with your sleep routine.
Yes. We can create a thinner daytime version if you experience clenching or tension during waking hours.
They don’t eliminate the habit, but they prevent the damage it causes and often help reduce the severity of grinding over time.
It can happen during the first few nights as your body adjusts. Let us know if it continues—we may be able to modify the fit.
A properly made night guard should preserve your bite alignment. Ill-fitting guards may shift teeth, which is why custom design is important.
Rinse it with cool water and brush gently with a soft toothbrush. You can soak it in a recommended cleaning solution once a week.
With regular cleaning and proper use, a night guard can last three to five years. Heavy grinders may need replacements more often.
Our in-house 3D-printed guards offer faster production, higher accuracy, and a more precise fit—all with less wait time.
Many dental plans offer partial coverage for night guards used to treat bruxism or TMJ symptoms. We’ll help you review your benefits.
Yes. We’ll examine it during your visit to check for wear and ensure it’s still fitting and functioning as it should.
Call Bella Dental at (805) 394-3000 for more information on booking an appointment, or fill out the form below and we will reach out to you!
