Most people who grind their teeth at night have no idea they’re doing it. There’s no alarm that goes off, no obvious sign — just a dull ache in your jaw by morning, tension headaches that seem to show up out of nowhere, or a partner nudging you awake because of the noise. Some people notice their teeth look flatter or more worn than they used to. Others feel soreness in their face or neck that they’ve been chalking up to stress.
If any of that sounds familiar, our team here in Oregon is here to help.
Teeth grinding, clinically called bruxism, is more common than most people realize. Left unaddressed, it can wear down enamel, crack teeth, strain the jaw joint, and lead to more complex dental problems over time. The good news is that it’s also one of the easier things to address once you know it’s happening.
A custom night guard won’t stop you from grinding — but it will protect your teeth and relieve pressure on your jaw while you sleep. For most patients, a guard makes a noticeable difference in how they feel in the morning. If you’ve been waking up uncomfortable and can’t figure out why, a quick conversation with your dentist is a great place to start.
It’s a fair question — and one worth answering honestly. Walk into any pharmacy and you’ll find night guards for $30 to $50. They’re right there, no appointment needed. So why would you go through your dentist instead?
The short answer: the fit is critical.
Over-the-counter guards are generic. Because they don’t conform precisely to your bite, they can actually shift your jaw into an unnatural position while you sleep — which can worsen grinding or create new tension in the jaw joint. They also tend to wear down faster, which means replacing them more often than you’d expect.
A custom night guard made by your dentist is designed around the exact shape and alignment of your teeth. It distributes pressure evenly, protects your enamel, and is built from durable materials that hold up over time. Most patients find it significantly more comfortable to wear — which means they actually wear it consistently, which is the whole point.
As for cost, many dental insurance plans cover a portion of a custom night guard, particularly when there’s documented evidence of grinding or jaw issues. It’s worth checking your benefits before assuming it’s fully out of pocket. And when you weigh the cost of a well-made guard against the cost of repairing cracked or worn teeth down the road, it’s typically a straightforward decision.
Also, when working with your teeth, even the smallest error in the dental mold can cause big problems. With an over-the-counter night guard, there’s no one to make adjustments. When working with an in-person dentist, they’re available to make little tweaks to the night guard so it fits just right.
If you’ve ever had a dental mold taken the traditional way, you probably remember it. A tray loaded with a thick, clay-like material pressed against your teeth, holding still while trying not to gag, hoping it sets correctly so you don’t have to do it again. It’s nobody’s favorite part of a dental visit.
At New Smiles, we’ve got a much easier way.
We use a digital scanning wand to create your night guard impression — a small, handheld device that captures a precise 3D image of your teeth in minutes. No putty and no gagging. This is a much more comfortable experience and will give our lab a detailed picture of your bite.
Digital scans capture detail that traditional impressions can miss, which means your guard fits more precisely from the start. That translates to more comfort and less time adjustments later.
The right technology makes a real difference — not just in the quality of the outcome, but in your comfort throughout the process. If you’ve been putting off a night guard because you dreaded the impression process, that’s one less reason to wait.
