Mouth Guards

A mouth guard is a custom-fitted appliance molded to your own teeth and bite. We make two kinds. A night guard is designed for bruxism — clenching and grinding, usually during sleep — and it creates a smooth barrier between your upper and lower teeth so the force of grinding lands on the appliance instead of your enamel, your fillings, or your crowns. People often find their way to a night guard after noticing flattened chewing surfaces, morning jaw soreness, tooth sensitivity, or a partner who hears the grinding at night.

A sports guard has a different job. It cushions impact. It's made for athletes of any age who play contact and collision sports, and it's meant to absorb a blow to the face so the teeth, lips, and jaw take less of it. Night guards tend to be harder and thinner, because they resist steady grinding pressure over hours; sports guards are thicker and more shock-absorbing, because they're built for a single sudden force. One does not substitute for the other, and we often make both for the same patient — a teenager who plays football and also clenches during exams, for example.

Almost anyone with natural teeth or dental restorations is a candidate. We see patients of all ages, from age one through adults, so a mouth guard conversation might happen at a child's checkup, during orthodontic treatment, or at an adult's cleaning when our hygienist spots wear patterns. If you've invested in crowns, veneers, bonding, or implants, protecting that work is a practical reason to consider a night guard.

A few things are worth knowing before you commit. A custom guard from our lab is not the same as a boil-and-bite option — it's made from impressions or scans of your actual teeth, so it stays in place, lets you speak and breathe more comfortably, and doesn't need to be clamped down on. Fit matters most for athletes, since a guard that shifts or feels bulky tends to get left in the gym bag. For patients in braces, the guard has to accommodate the appliances, and our board-certified orthodontist, Dr. Sayed, and our general dentists coordinate so the design works with the treatment you're in.

Here are the situations we most often recommend a guard for:

• Nighttime clenching or grinding, especially with jaw soreness or worn enamel
• Protecting existing crowns, veneers, bonding, or implant restorations
• Youth and adult athletes in contact or collision sports
• Patients in braces or clear aligners who also play sports
• Children and teens, including those with special healthcare needs

Cost, Insurance, and Booking Your Visit

We accept all major PPO insurance plans and are happy to run a complimentary benefits check so you know what's covered before anything is made. Self-pay patients are welcome, and we take cash, checks, Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. CareCredit financing is available if you'd prefer to spread payments out.

If you don't carry dental insurance, our in-house membership plan is $199 a year for adults and $99 a year for patients 17 and under, with no deductibles, no annual maximum, no waiting period, and 20% to 50% off treatment beyond covered preventive care.

Consultations are complimentary. We'd be glad to see you — patients from Woodhaven, Trenton, Riverview, and Flat Rock are always welcome, and se habla español.