Which statement about a hard night guard is true?

Which statement about a hard night guard is true?

• A. It reduces joint loading by 85%
• B. It increases joint loading
• C. It is worn only during daytime
• D. It has no effect on joint loading

Answer: (A)

Hard night guards work by creating a stable, flat occlusal surface that evenly distributes bite forces and reduces heavy nocturnal clenching. This changes how the jaw muscles fire during sleep and lowers the forces transmitted through the temporomandibular joints, often resulting in a substantial drop in joint loading. In well-fitted cases, this reduction can be quite large—commonly described as a major decrease, such as about 85% in some contexts—which is why this option is considered true. They are designed for nighttime wear to address nocturnal bruxism, not daytime use, and they do affect joint loading rather than leaving it unchanged.

Hard night guards work by creating a stable, flat occlusal surface that evenly distributes bite forces and reduces heavy nocturnal clenching. This changes how the jaw muscles fire during sleep and lowers the forces transmitted through the temporomandibular joints, often resulting in a substantial drop in joint loading. In well-fitted cases, this reduction can be quite large—commonly described as a major decrease, such as about 85% in some contexts—which is why this option is considered true. They are designed for nighttime wear to address nocturnal bruxism, not daytime use, and they do affect joint loading rather than leaving it unchanged.