What is a Night Guard?

A night guard is a type of mouth guard worn by patients to treat nighttime bruxism. Bruxism is the term used to describe the grinding of the teeth, which can occur in both children and adults.

A night guard is worn in the mouth during the patient’s sleep. By wearing the night guard, the teeth are protected from damage caused by heavy grinding or clenching.

Custom-fitted Night Guards

Custom-fitted night guards are individually designed for your teeth. These guards can be especially useful for people who have nighttime teeth grinding habits.

Custom-fitted night guards provide extra cushioning for your teeth, protecting them from damage caused by teeth grinding or clenching. Custom-fitted night guards also prevent your upper and lower jaw from moving in opposite directions, which can be particularly uncomfortable.

Boil and Bite Night Guards

A common way your dentist can make you a night guard is by “boil and bite.” This method involves biting down on soft plastic that is heated and then shaped to the mouth. Once it is cooled, the bite plate can be trimmed if needed. This method requires no dental impressions, and is often used to make night guards for children.

While boil and bite night guards are often quite affordable, they don’t fit as well as custom-made guards. Many patients prefer custom-made night guards, which are more comfortable and can be made to fit seamlessly.

Tooth grinding (bruxism) treatment

Night guards are a common treatment for patients who grind or clench their teeth while sleeping. This condition is medically known as bruxism. Patients clench their teeth unconsciously, usually while sleeping. This can cause a number of oral health issues, including jaw pain, worn teeth, tooth sensitivity, and even broken teeth.

Orthodontic Night Guards

Orthodontic night guards prevent teeth grinding (bruxism), which can wear down teeth and cause jaw pain.

Sports Mouth Guards

For people who participate in sports, we can offer custom sports mouth guards. Our comfortable mouth guards are shaped to fit your teeth, so they stay in place while allowing you to breathe and speak normally.

Oral Appliance Therapy (OAT)

Oral appliance therapy (OAT), also known as oral appliance therapy, is a type of treatment for sleep apnea. OAT involves the use of oral appliances, such as mouth guards, as a treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. The oral appliances work by moving the lower jaw forward, which opens up the throat and airway. This adjustment helps improve breathing while sleeping.