A night guard for teeth grinding, made to fit

Why teeth grinding matters

Grinding and clenching put far more force on your teeth than chewing does, and usually for hours at night without you knowing. Over months and years that force wears the biting edges flat, chips the corners of front teeth, cracks fillings and loosens crowns. It can also leave the jaw muscles aching and cause headaches around the temples when you wake.

Most of the time grinding is linked to stress, poor sleep, caffeine or alcohol, and it often comes and goes with how life is going. The wear it causes does not come back, so protecting your teeth while the habit is there is what matters.

What a custom night guard is

A night guard is a thin, smooth cover for your upper or lower teeth, worn while you sleep. Ours are made by a dental laboratory from moulds or a scan of your own teeth, so the guard fits closely, stays in without you having to bite on it, and spreads the pressure evenly when your teeth meet.

That is the difference from a shop-bought guard. Boil-and-bite guards are designed for sport, so they are thick and soft. They can feel bulky, slip out at night and wear through, and some people find a soft guard makes them chew on it more.

Protecting crowns, veneers and bonding

If you have had cosmetic work, a guard protects that investment too. Grinding can chip composite bonding and porcelain veneers, and wear down crowns. We often suggest a night guard after this kind of treatment if we can see signs of grinding.

Start with a check-up

The wear on your teeth tells us a lot, so the first step is a check-up. We look at your teeth, jaw muscles and jaw joints, explain what we see, and tell you whether a guard is right for you before we make one. Every price is on our fee guide.