Services / Cosmetic, Prevention, & Restorative Care
Custom Night Guards for Bruxism in Gig Harbor, WA
Waking up with a sore jaw, a dull headache, or teeth that feel sensitive for no obvious reason? You may be grinding or clenching in your sleep without knowing it. At Kvinsland Dentistry, we craft custom night guards that protect your teeth from the damage of bruxism — and for patients whose grinding has begun to strain the jaw joint, a guard is often the first step toward relief from TMJ symptoms.
What Bruxism Does to Your Teeth
Bruxism — the clinical term for grinding and clenching — happens most often at night, during sleep, when you have no conscious control over it. The forces involved are far greater than normal chewing, and over months and years they take a measurable toll.
Worn, Flattened Enamel
Grinding wears down the biting surfaces of your teeth. Once enamel is gone, it doesn’t grow back.
Cracks and Chips
Sustained pressure creates hairline fractures that deepen over time, leading to cracked or chipped teeth.
Increased Sensitivity
As enamel thins, teeth become more reactive to hot and cold — a common cause of tooth sensitivity.
Jaw Strain and Headaches
The same clenching that wears teeth strains the jaw joint, producing morning soreness and tension headaches.
Signs You May Be Grinding in Your Sleep
Because most grinding happens while you sleep, the clues often show up during the day. Mention any of these at your next visit:
What You Might Notice
- A sore or tired jaw when you wake up
- Dull headaches that start at the temples
- Teeth that feel sensitive or loose
- Disrupted sleep — yours or a partner’s, from the sound of grinding
What We Might See
- Flattened, shortened, or chipped tooth edges
- Small fractures in the enamel
- Tenderness in the jaw muscles
- Indentations along the edges of the tongue
Caught early, grinding is easy to manage — and a custom night guard often stops the damage before it ever reaches the point of needing restorative work.
Custom Night Guard vs. Over-the-Counter
Drugstore guards are inexpensive, but the difference in fit, comfort, and protection is significant — and the wrong guard can actually make jaw strain worse.
Custom Night Guard
Fabricated from a precise impression of your teeth, a custom guard fits exactly, stays comfortably in place all night, and is calibrated to your bite to relieve pressure on the jaw joint. Made from durable materials, it lasts for years with proper care.
Over-the-Counter Guard
One-size-fits-all boil-and-bite guards are bulky, loosen during the night, and wear out quickly. Because they aren’t matched to your bite, they can shift the jaw into a worse position and increase soreness rather than relieve it.
Wake up without the sore jaw. A custom night guard starts with one simple impression.
What to Expect: Two Simple Visits
Getting fitted for a custom night guard is comfortable and straightforward.
1. Impression Visit
We take a quick, precise impression (or digital scan) of your teeth and check your bite. There’s nothing uncomfortable about this step, and it takes only a few minutes.
2. Fitting Visit
When your guard returns from the lab, we fit it, fine-tune it for comfort, and show you how to wear and care for it. You’ll start protecting your teeth that very night.
Caring for Your Night Guard at Home
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Rinse after every use — rinse the guard in cool water and brush it gently with a soft toothbrush to remove bacteria.
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Avoid hot water — heat can warp the material and ruin the fit. Cool or lukewarm water only.
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Store it dry — let the guard air-dry, then keep it in its ventilated case away from pets and heat.
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Clean the case weekly — wash the case with soap and water regularly to keep bacteria from building up.
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Bring it to checkups — we'll inspect the fit and wear at your regular cleanings.
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Replace when worn — a well-cared-for guard lasts several years; we'll let you know when it's time for a new one.
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Rinse after every use — rinse the guard in cool water and brush it gently with a soft toothbrush to remove bacteria.
-
Avoid hot water — heat can warp the material and ruin the fit. Cool or lukewarm water only.
-
Store it dry — let the guard air-dry, then keep it in its ventilated case away from pets and heat.
-
Clean the case weekly — wash the case with soap and water regularly to keep bacteria from building up.
-
Bring it to checkups — we'll inspect the fit and wear at your regular cleanings.
-
Replace when worn — a well-cared-for guard lasts several years; we'll let you know when it's time for a new one.
Your Night Guard Questions Answered
Can my dentist treat my grinding, or do I need a specialist?
For most patients, a dentist is exactly the right provider. Diagnosing bruxism, protecting your teeth with a custom guard, and managing grinding-related wear all fall within general dental care. If your grinding is tied to a deeper jaw-joint problem, we’ll coordinate the right referral — but a night guard is almost always the first step.
I already have crowns or veneers. Do I still need a night guard?
Often, yes — and protecting that investment is exactly why. Grinding puts significant force on restorations and can crack or loosen them. A custom night guard cushions crowns, veneers, and natural teeth alike, helping your dental work last as long as possible.
How long does a custom night guard last?
With proper care, most custom night guards last three to five years, and sometimes longer. How quickly it wears depends on the intensity of your grinding. We check the guard at your regular visits and let you know when it’s time to replace it.
Is wearing a night guard uncomfortable?
A custom guard is far more comfortable than the bulky over-the-counter kind because it’s made to fit your mouth precisely. Most patients adjust within a few nights and quickly stop noticing it. If anything feels off, we fine-tune the fit at no extra charge.
Will insurance help cover a night guard?
Many dental plans cover a portion of a custom night guard, especially when it’s treating diagnosed bruxism. We’ll help you understand your benefits — see our financial information for payment options.