Night Guards
Grinding wears enamel, cracks teeth and feeds morning headaches, often for months before you notice. A custom night guard cushions your teeth while you sleep, made to your measurements in days.
- Made in
- A matter of days
- Fit
- Custom, from our own dental lab
- Worn
- Nightly, while you sleep
- Lifespan
- About 5 years on average
Every service is quoted up front, before we start. All PPO insurances accepted.
The service
Bruxism does its damage quietly.
Teeth grinding, bruxism, usually happens in your sleep and can go unnoticed for months. Upper and lower teeth rub against each other, wearing enamel until teeth crack and chip, and the clenching feeds jaw pain, chronic headaches and migraines, and neck and face pain. It has also been linked to sleep disorders such as sleep apnea and insomnia.
A night guard is a removable appliance that sits between your upper and lower teeth, cushioning them against grinding and keeping the lower jaw from shifting while you sleep. A custom guard, built from your own measurements, fits securely and protects in a way no over-the-counter guard can; store-bought guards are temporary relief at best.
What happens
From consultation to first night.
Exam
The dentist checks for the signs of grinding: flattened edges, chips, enamel wear, and the jaw and headache symptoms that go with them.
Measurements
We take impressions and measurements of your mouth, so the guard is built for your bite alone.
Fabrication
Our dental lab constructs the guard in a matter of days, from material strong enough to outlast grinding but soft enough to sleep in.
Fitting and care
You leave with a guard that seats securely, a cleanser for it, and instructions for keeping it in shape.
Is it for you
Worth asking about if.
You do not need to match every line. Any one of them is reason enough to ask.
- You wake with jaw pain, headaches or migraines
- A partner hears grinding in the night
- Teeth look flattened, chipped or worn down
- Sensitivity with no obvious cavity
- A dentist has spotted grinding wear at a checkup
Afterwards
Living with a night guard.
Rinse the guard each morning and clean it with the cleanser we provide. Bring it to your checkups so we can check the fit and the wear.
Expect about 5 years of service on average; heavy grinders may need a replacement in as little as a year. For grinding or snoring problems, plan on wearing it every night.
Call the office if:
- The guard cracks or no longer seats properly
- Jaw pain or headaches persist despite nightly wear
- You notice new chips or flattened edges on your teeth
Common questions
Answering your questions.
Is a custom guard really better than a pharmacy one?
Yes. It is made from your exact measurements, so it fits securely, protects fully and lasts. Over-the-counter guards offer temporary relief at best.
Is it comfortable enough to sleep in?
The material is strong enough to take the grinding, but soft enough to sleep in. If it rubs anywhere, bring it back and we will adjust the fit.
How long will it last?
About 5 years on average; with heavy use it may need replacing in as little as a year.
Your first visit
One ticket covers it.
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