What does a night guard do?
During sleep, many people clench or grind their teeth with far more force than they would ever use while eating. Over months and years this can flatten and chip teeth, crack fillings, loosen crowns and overwork the jaw muscles. A night guard, also called an occlusal splint, places a smooth, durable layer between the upper and lower teeth.
The guard does three things. It takes the wear instead of your enamel. It spreads biting force across many teeth rather than concentrating it on a few. And with a carefully balanced surface, it can help the jaw muscles relax, which is why splints are a core part of TMJ disorder management.
Custom guard or store-bought guard?
Pharmacy "boil-and-bite" guards are thick, soft and approximate in fit. Some people find they chew on them, which can make clenching worse. A custom night guard from a dental clinic is thinner, fits your teeth precisely, stays in place without biting down to hold it, and has a bite surface adjusted to your jaw movements. It is also easier to keep clean.
Who should consider a night guard?
- People told by a partner that they grind their teeth at night
- Anyone waking with sore jaw muscles, tight temples or morning headaches
- Patients with flattened, chipped or cracked teeth, or with cracked tooth symptoms
- Those who have invested in crowns, veneers, bonded restorations or dental implants and want to protect them
- Patients receiving bruxism treatment or TMJ therapy
A night guard may not be the right first step if you have loud snoring or suspected sleep apnea, because some designs can affect the airway; we may recommend you see a sleep specialist first. Loose teeth from active gum disease also need treatment before a guard is fitted.
How we make your night guard
- Assessment. We look for wear facets, cracks, muscle tenderness and joint sounds, and we photograph worn areas with our Q-ray intraoral camera so you can see what is happening.
- Impressions and bite record. We take accurate impressions of your teeth and record how your jaws meet.
- Fabrication. The guard is made from a hard or dual-layer material chosen for your situation, usually covering one arch.
- Fitting. At the fitting visit we check that the guard seats fully, feels secure and does not press on the gums.
- Bite balancing. We fine-tune the surface so your teeth touch evenly and the jaw can glide smoothly.
- Follow-up. A short review after a few weeks lets us make adjustments once your muscles have relaxed.
Living with your night guard
It usually takes a week or two to sleep comfortably with a guard. Extra saliva on the first nights is normal and settles quickly. Daily care is simple:
- Rinse the guard and brush it gently with a soft brush and mild soap each morning
- Avoid hot water, which can distort the material
- Let it dry and store it in its ventilated case, away from pets
- Bring it to every routine check-up so we can check wear and fit
If your bite feels different in the morning for more than a short while after removing the guard, let us know so we can review it.
Upper or lower guard: which one will I get?
Both designs can work well. An upper guard is the most common choice because it tends to be stable and easy to balance. A lower guard can feel less bulky for people with a strong gag reflex or many restorations on the upper teeth. We base the choice on your bite, your existing dental work and what you are likely to wear consistently, since a guard only helps on the nights it is actually in your mouth. If you travel often, ask us about a sturdy case so the guard goes with you.
Limitations
A night guard protects teeth and can reduce muscle strain, but it does not stop the brain from triggering grinding. Wear on the guard is expected, and it will eventually need replacing. If dental work such as new crowns changes your bite, the guard may need adjusting or remaking. For daytime clenching, habit awareness is more effective than an appliance.
Why patients choose E&D Dental for night guards
We fit guards as part of a wider look at your jaw, bite and restorations, rather than as a stand-alone product. If symptoms persist, our in-clinic TMJ physical therapy device can be added without a referral elsewhere. Patients from Sanbon, Suri-dong and the rest of Gunpo appreciate fitting appointments on Monday and Thursday evenings. To protect your teeth from night-time wear, schedule a night guard consultation.