Night Guards

Why a Night Guard (Nite-Guard)?

Many people grind their teeth at night (and during the day) for a number of reasons such as in response to anxiety or stress, or previous grinding habits.  While the grinding during sleep can disturb your significant other, it can also damage your teeth and existing fillings and crowns.

What is a night guard?

A night guard is a thin plastic appliance that fits over your upper teeth to protect them from the damaging forces of grinding.  It is a custom-fit prosthesis that is made specifically for your teeth and your bite, and is designed for you to wear each and every night.  The goal is that if you are going to grind, we’d rather you grind on the guard, and not on your teeth!

What about over the counter guards?

Over the counter guards have become more popular in recent years, as they can be purchased inexpensively at your local drug store. The problem with these types of guards is that they are not specifically fit to your teeth (even the ones that you “heat to fit”), and are not nearly as strong as the material we use for a night guard in the office.

Athletic Mouth Guards

Drug store guards can be effective for children playing light contact sports, but for heavy contact sports such as football or ice hockey, we recommend an office-made guard for maximum protection.