Mouth Guards in Flat Rock
A custom mouth guard is a thin, precisely fitted shell of dental-grade material that sits over your teeth and absorbs force that would otherwise land on enamel, fillings, crowns, and jaw joints. That force comes from two very different places: nighttime clenching and grinding, and contact during sports. We make guards for both at our Woodhaven office, and because we have an in-house dental lab, Flat Rock patients work with the same team that designs, fabricates, and later adjusts the appliance.
Night guards are for patients who grind or clench, often without knowing it. The signs usually show up in the morning — a sore jaw, tight temples, a dull headache, teeth that feel sensitive to cold. Over months and years, grinding flattens chewing surfaces, chips enamel at the edges, and can loosen or fracture existing crowns and fillings. A night guard doesn't stop the clenching habit, but it gives the forces somewhere to go other than your teeth, and it cushions the jaw joints while you sleep.
Sports guards solve a different problem: sudden impact. They're built to take a hit and spread it out, protecting front teeth, lips, and soft tissue during contact and collision sports. Young athletes in Flat Rock are the most common candidates, especially those still growing, though adults in recreational leagues benefit just as much. Compared with a night guard, a sports guard is typically thicker through the biting surface and shaped to stay secure while you're breathing hard and moving.
The comparison matters because the two are not interchangeable. Wearing a sports guard to bed is bulky and uncomfortable, and a thin night guard offers little against a stick or an elbow. If you need both, we'll make both, each designed for the job it's doing.
Your first visit starts with a conversation and an exam. We look for the wear patterns, enamel chips, and tenderness that point to grinding, and we check how your teeth come together. For athletes, we talk about the sport, whether braces or aligners are in the picture, and how the guard needs to fit around orthodontic hardware. We see patients of all ages, so a Flat Rock family can bring a teenage hockey player and a parent with jaw pain to the same practice.
From there, we take impressions or a scan of your teeth and send them to our lab here in the building. Working on site means we control the thickness, the bite surface, and the trim line, and it shortens the back-and-forth that comes with sending work out. When the guard is ready, you come in to try it. We check that it seats without rocking, that the bite contacts are even, and that nothing presses into your gums. Small adjustments at delivery make a large difference in whether you actually wear it.
- A custom guard fitted to your own teeth rather than a one-size boil-and-bite
- Protection for existing crowns, veneers, bridges, and fillings
- Relief of pressure on the jaw joints and muscles for nighttime clenchers
- Impact protection for front teeth and soft tissue during sports
- Adjustments, relines, and repairs handled by our on-site lab
- A comfort menu during appointments — blankets, warm towels, neck pillows, headphones, Netflix, and refreshments
Caring For Your Guard And Following Up
Rinse the guard in cool water after each use and brush it gently — hot water can warp the material. Store it dry in its case, away from pets, and keep it out of hot cars, a common way guards get ruined between practices. Bring it to your cleaning appointments so we can inspect it alongside your teeth.
Guards wear down. If you see thin spots, cracks, or a change in how it fits, tell us. Growing athletes often need a new guard as permanent teeth come in or orthodontic treatment progresses, and patients who clench heavily may go through guards faster than average. Since our lab is on site, relines, repairs, and remakes don't mean long waits.
Insurance, Membership, And Payment Options
We accept all major PPO insurance plans and will run a complimentary benefits check before treatment so you know what your plan covers. We also welcome self-pay patients and accept cash, checks, Visa, Mastercard, and American Express.
For Flat Rock patients without insurance, our in-house membership plan is $199 a year for adults and $99 for ages 17 and under, with no annual maximum, no deductible, no waiting period, and no pre-authorizations. It covers exams, X-rays, two cleanings, and two fluoride treatments at 100%, plus 20% to 50% off other treatment. CareCredit financing is available as well, and your consultation with us is complimentary. Se habla español.