What it does well
A well-fitted night guard reduces direct tooth-on-tooth contact during grinding, which can slow further wear and reduce stress on existing dental work, without altering your teeth or bite permanently.
Preventive Dentistry
Protecting teeth from a habit you can't feel happening.
Grinding or clenching the teeth during sleep can wear down enamel, stress existing dental work, and leave the jaw muscles tired without a patient ever waking up aware of it. A night guard is one way to reduce the force these habits put on your teeth.
What it is
A buffer between opposing teeth.
A night guard is a removable appliance worn while sleeping. Its job is to sit between the upper and lower teeth, helping reduce direct tooth-to-tooth contact and distribute some of the force created by grinding or clenching.
It doesn't stop the grinding itself. What it addresses is the wear and stress that grinding places on the teeth and on any crowns, veneers, or fillings already in the mouth.
A night guard is fitted to sit comfortably between the upper and lower teeth during sleep.
When it may be appropriate
Evaluate the cause before assuming it's grinding.
Signs that may point toward nighttime grinding or clenching include flattened or chipped edges on teeth, new cracks or fractures in existing dental work, morning jaw or temple soreness, or a partner mentioning grinding sounds during sleep.
Not every case of tooth wear or jaw discomfort is caused by grinding, so we look at the pattern of wear and ask about your symptoms before recommending a guard. If something else is contributing, we'll say so rather than reaching for an appliance by default.
Why protecting existing work matters
Grinding doesn't only affect natural teeth.
The forces involved in grinding and clenching can be considerably greater than normal chewing forces. Over time, that can chip enamel, crack fillings, or put unwanted stress on crowns and other restorative work.
If you've invested in restorative or cosmetic dental work, a night guard can be part of protecting that investment — reducing the chance that a grinding habit undoes work that was otherwise done well.
Benefits and trade-offs
A conservative appliance with a specific job.
What to weigh
A night guard manages the effects of grinding and clenching — it isn't a treatment for jaw joint disorders on its own. If jaw pain, clicking, or limited motion is part of the picture, that's worth evaluating separately as a TMJ concern.
What patients can expect
A fit built around how your teeth actually meet.
After an evaluation confirms a night guard is a reasonable fit for what we're seeing, we'll talk through what's involved in having one made and fitted so it sits comfortably against your particular bite.
The goal is an appliance you'll actually wear consistently. One that's uncomfortable or doesn't fit well tends to end up in a drawer, which doesn't protect anything.
Long-term considerations
Guards wear too, and grinding patterns can change.
Like any appliance in regular use, a night guard shows wear over time and eventually needs to be checked or replaced. It's also worth reassessing at routine visits, since grinding intensity and its effects on your teeth can shift over the years.
Noticing wear, cracks, or morning jaw soreness? Let's take a look.
A consultation is a conversation, not a commitment. We'll evaluate before recommending an appliance.