Night Guard

What is a Night Guard? (The Insurance Policy For Your Teeth)

Do you ever wake up with a dull headache, a sore jaw, or teeth that just feel… tired? Have you ever been told by a partner that you make grinding sounds in your sleep? If so, you’re likely one of the millions of people who unconsciously clench or grind their teeth at night (a condition called bruxism).

This habit can exert hundreds of pounds of force on your teeth, leading to cracks, wear, and fractures. The simple, effective solution is a Night Guard.

Think of a night guard not as a hassle, but as an insurance policy for your smile. You’ve invested in keeping your teeth healthy—and perhaps in beautiful restorations like crowns or veneers. A night guard is the single best way to protect that investment from silent, nocturnal destruction.

“But I Don’t Think I Grind My Teeth…”

This is the most common thing we hear from patients. Because it happens during sleep, most people have no idea they’re doing it. However, your teeth don’t lie. As dental professionals, we can see the tell-tale signs long before you feel any major symptoms:

• Flattened or worn-down chewing surfaces on your molars.
• Tiny craze lines or micro-fractures in your enamel.
• Chipped or broken fillings and crowns with no other clear cause.
• Jaw muscle soreness (TMD) and tension headaches, especially in the morning.
• Notches in your teeth near the gumline (abfractions) from the tooth flexing under pressure.

The Critical Difference: Custom-Fit vs. Store-Bought

It’s tempting to pick up a cheap "boil-and-bite" guard from the pharmacy, but this is often a case of getting what you pay for.

• Store-Bought Guards: These are made from a soft, bulky material. Their poor fit can actually train your jaw muscles to chew and clench more, potentially worsening your symptoms. They offer minimal protection and are quickly destroyed.
• Professionally-Made Custom Guards: This is a completely different class of device. We take a precise digital scan of your teeth to create a guard that fits perfectly. It’s made from a much more durable, rigid acrylic that is surprisingly thin and comfortable. More importantly, it’s designed not just to be a barrier, but to distribute biting forces evenly and allow your jaw to settle into a relaxed, natural position. It’s the difference between a generic shoe insert and a custom orthotic prescribed by a doctor.

The process is simple: a quick, comfortable digital scan and a follow-up visit to ensure a perfect fit. That's it.

Here's what we want you to remember:

A night guard is not just a piece of plastic. It's a custom medical appliance that acts as an insurance policy for your smile, protecting your natural teeth and your dental investments from the destructive, unconscious habit of grinding.

Every patient's situation is unique.

The right type of night guard, its specific design, and how it fits against your bite is critical. A guard that isn't made for you can be ineffective or even harmful. That's why we meticulously design one based on your specific wear patterns and jaw mechanics.

Have questions about grinding?

Or wondering if the signs of wear are showing up on your teeth? We're here to give you honest, personalized answers. Schedule a consultation at our Woodland Hills practice – let's talk about what's really best for your smile.