Night Guards
A custom night guard takes the load of grinding and clenching so your teeth do not. It costs a fraction of the crown it is there to prevent.
Most people do not know they grind
Grinding and clenching mostly happen at night, so the first evidence is usually something we see rather than something you feel: flattened edges that all line up, shiny wear facets, hairline cracks in enamel, a tooth that is suddenly sensitive to cold, or fillings that keep coming out of one side.
A night guard is a hard custom appliance that sits over one arch. The load goes into the appliance instead of into your teeth and jaw joints. It does not stop you grinding; it changes what pays for it.
- Custom made from an impression or scan
- Hard acrylic, not a soft sports guard
- Adjusted so the bite is even on it
- Checked for wear at every visit
- Usually the upper arch
- Replaced when it has done its job
What grinding actually costs
Nobody cracks a tooth on a Tuesday because of one bad night. It is years of load, and the bill arrives all at once.
Teeth wear flat
Once enamel is gone the dentine underneath wears much faster, and the tooth gets shorter and more sensitive.
Cracks start and spread
A cracked cusp under grinding load becomes a split tooth. That is the path from a crown to an extraction.
Jaw joints and muscles complain
Waking with a tight jaw, headaches around the temples, or a click on opening. Not everyone gets these and they have other causes, so they get assessed rather than assumed.
Why custom rather than off the shelf
This is one where the cheap version genuinely underperforms.
It fits your arch
Made from an impression or scan of your own teeth, so it seats properly and stays put while you sleep.
The bite on it is adjusted
A guard where only two teeth touch concentrates the load rather than spreading it. Adjusting it evenly is most of the value.
Hard acrylic, not soft rubber
A soft guard can make some people clench harder. A hard guard takes the load and shows its own wear, which tells us what is happening.
How we handle them
A night guard that lives in a drawer protects nothing. Most of the follow-up is about whether it is actually being worn and whether it still fits.
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01
We check its wear at every visit
The guard shows where the load is going. A deep facet on one side tells us more than anything you could report.
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02
We do not oversell it
A night guard protects teeth. It is not a treatment for headaches or jaw pain, even though some people find those improve. We will not promise that.
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03
Replacement is expected
It wears through eventually, and that is it doing its job. Better the acrylic than the enamel.
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04
Sports guards are a different thing
A mouthguard for rugby or football is soft and made for impact. Ask for that separately, particularly for teenagers in the sports season.
How you get one
Two short appointments with laboratory time between them.
Assessment
We look at the wear pattern, the muscles and the joints, and check whether anything else explains what you are noticing.
Impression or scan
A record of the arch. Quick, and with the 3D scanner there is no putty tray involved.
Laboratory work
The guard is made off-site. Shipping is part of the timeline in Bermuda so the fit appointment is booked around it.
Fit and adjust
It is seated, the bite on it is checked and adjusted until the contacts are even, and you are shown how to clean and store it.
Custom against shop-bought
What the extra actually buys.
| Custom hard guard | Boil and bite | Nothing | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fit | Made to your arch | Approximate | Not applicable |
| Bite adjusted | Yes, by a clinician | No | No |
| Material | Hard acrylic | Soft, often thick | None |
| Stays in overnight | Usually | Often not | Not applicable |
| Protects | A whole arch | Partly | Nothing |
| What it risks | Needs replacing eventually | Can encourage clenching | Wear, cracks, crowns |
The fee is given in writing when you book. Call 441 292 0107 and ask.
Questions patients actually ask
Do not see yours here. Call the practice on 441 292 0107 and ask. Nobody minds the question.
Call 441 292 0107How do I know if I grind my teeth?
Usually you do not, because it happens while you are asleep. We see it: flattened edges that line up across the arch, shiny wear facets, hairline cracks, or fillings failing repeatedly on one side.
A partner mentioning the noise is the other common way people find out.
Will a night guard stop me grinding?
No, and anyone telling you otherwise is overselling it. It changes what absorbs the load. The grinding continues; the acrylic takes it instead of your teeth.
Upper or lower?
Usually upper, because it is more stable and most people tolerate it better. There are cases where a lower guard is the right choice and that is decided at the assessment.
How do I look after it?
Rinse it in cold water and brush it with a soft brush in the morning, then store it dry in its case. Hot water distorts it. Keep it away from dogs, who reliably eat them.
Is it covered by insurance?
Sometimes, and it varies by plan. Ask CG Insurance, Argus or BF&M whether occlusal appliances are included. See insurance and payment.
Book a visit
Tell us what you need and when suits you. We will come back to you to confirm a time. If it is urgent, calling is faster.
- New patients welcome, every age.
- Free exams for children under three.
- CG Insurance, Argus and BF&M claims filed for you.
- Something hurting today? Call 441 292 0107.
Request an appointment
We answer during practice hours, Monday to Friday.
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