Oral Appliances in Anchorage, AK

At Family First Dentistry we can customize oral appliances for all your needs. There are many purposes for using an oral appliance, they may include:

• Teeth grinding, jaw tension, or bite correction
• A snore appliance for mild to moderate sleep apnea
• Custom whitening trays
• Sports or Athletic guard
• Retainers for post orthodontics

Because it is made from digital scans or impressions of your own mouth, it fits precisely and is easy to wear night after night. We help you choose the right appliance for your needs, whether the goal is protecting your teeth, keeping your airway open during sleep, or easing pressure on your jaw.

Night Guards for Grinding and Clenching

Most people who grind their teeth do it in their sleep and have no idea until the damage shows up on an exam. Flattened chewing surfaces, small fractures, worn enamel, sensitivity, and a sore jaw in the morning are the usual signs. A night guard does not stop the grinding, it absorbs the force so your teeth are not what absorbs it. Left unaddressed, years of grinding can wear a bite down far enough to change how the jaw sits, which is covered on our TMJ page.

Appliances for Snoring and Sleep

A sleep appliance works differently. It holds the lower jaw slightly forward so the airway stays more open during sleep, which can reduce snoring and help with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea. For patients who cannot tolerate a CPAP machine, it is often the practical alternative. Any decision here is made together with your physician, since sleep apnea is a medical diagnosis rather than a dental one.

Custom Whitening Trays

We have many options at Family First Dentistry for whitening your teeth to help look years younger by brightening your smile. One option of whitening is a custom whitening tray where you purchase whitening gel at our office and place the gel in the tray to whiten your teeth. This is a special tray that is made with small reservoirs around each tooth to hold the whitening gel.

Athletes- Protect Your Teeth

A custom athletic guard protects your smile by absorbing and spreading out the heavy force of a sudden hit to your face. Store-bought mouthguards often feel loose and uncomfortable because they use a one-size-fits-all shape. A custom guard is made from an exact mold of your unique teeth. This snug fit stays firmly in place while you play sports or move around. 

Keep Your Smile Straight

Your teeth want to move back after braces. A custom clear retainer stops that shift and keeps your smile straight.

Why Custom Beats Over-the-Counter

A drugstore boil-and-bite guard is one shape for every mouth. It is bulky, it moves while you sleep, and in some cases it changes how your teeth come together over time. A flimsy-soft night guard can actually cause harm to your jaw joint and promote bad oral habits. A custom appliance is made from impressions or a digital scan of your own teeth, so it fits closely, stays put, and does not interfere with the bite it is meant to protect. There are very specific sizes and purposes for each appliance. Call us for an appointment to know which is best for your needs.

Getting Fitted and Keeping It

The process is straightforward. We take impressions or a digital scan, the lab fabricates the appliance, and you come back to have the fit and bite checked and adjusted. Bring it to your regular checkups so we can clean it and inspect the condition of the appliance. When grinding traces back to breathing and muscle patterns, myofunctional therapy may address the cause alongside the appliance.