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An orthodontic night guard is a custom made appliance made of hard plastic acrylic. It is typically 2-4 mm thick and is worn on the upper jaw. When worn it will help protect the teeth from any clenching and grinding. These "parafunctional" behaviors are usually done at night when patients are unaware of what their jaws are doing. The night guard will not stop these activities, but it will help prevent any damage to the teeth and jaw joint (TMJ).
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