Night guards
Clenching, grinding and night guards
Clenching and grinding mean pressing or sliding your teeth together hard, often while you sleep, and a night guard is a hard plastic cover for your teeth that you wear at night.
A guard doesn't stop the clenching. It takes the wear instead of your teeth, and some people find their jaw feels better with one. Others don't, and we say so at the check-in.
What happens
Usually two or three visits: one to confirm and take the scan, one to fit it and one to check it.
- 01
Step 1: We confirm it is clenching
We look for flat wear on the teeth, marks along the cheeks and tongue, and sore chewing muscles. We ask about your sleep.
- 02
Step 2: A scan or impressions
A small camera passes over your teeth, or a tray with soft material takes a mold. Tell us if you gag and we'll change how we do it.
- 03
Step 3: The fitting
The guard is made by a dental laboratory. At the fitting we check how it sits and how your teeth meet on it.
- 04
Step 4: A check-in
A few weeks later we look at the fit, ask how your mornings feel, and adjust or stop if it isn't helping.
Comfort, choices and care
Comfort
Nothing here needs numbing. A scan or mold takes a few minutes, and you can ask us to pause.
If you wait
Clenching wears teeth down slowly, and worn or cracked teeth need repair. A repair is usually a bigger job than a guard.
Risks and after-care
A guard that fits badly can leave the jaw sore in the morning. We check it, adjust it and stop if it isn't helping. Clean it every day, and keep it away from pets, who chew them.
How it's billed
Many dental plans cover a night guard in part, or not at all. We check your plan and give a written estimate before we scan.
How fees work
What we look at, and when we refer
What we look at
Flat or chipped edges on the teeth
Marks along the cheeks and tongue
Sore or enlarged chewing muscles
How the guard sits and how your teeth meet on it
When we refer
Loud snoring, pauses in breathing or daytime sleepiness: to your physician, for a sleep evaluation
Grinding that began with a new medicine: to the doctor who prescribed it
Jaw pain a guard doesn't change: back to the jaw exam, or to a dentist limited to orofacial pain
Questions about clenching, grinding and night guards
Is a store-bought guard okay?
Some people use one for a while. It isn't made for your bite, so ask us to look at your teeth and tell you what we'd choose.
How long does a guard last?
It depends on how hard you clench. We check it at every visit and tell you when it has worn.
Will it stop my clenching?
No. It protects your teeth. Whether your jaw feels better varies from person to person.
Do I wear it every night?
Dr. Mukherjee tells you how and when after the fitting, and changes it if it doesn't suit you.
Provided by a general dentist
Dr. Radha Mukherjee, DDS, general dentist, licensed in Michigan. This is not specialty care.