Two Different Guards for Two Different Jobs
An athletic mouth guard is built to absorb and spread out the force of a blow to the face. A night guard, also called an occlusal guard, is a firm appliance that keeps your teeth from grinding against each other while you sleep. They are not interchangeable.
A night guard is not shock-absorbent and must never be worn for contact sports. The wrong appliance can leave your teeth unprotected. At Arizona Biltmore Dentistry, our dental team matches the design to the purpose.
Custom Versus Store-Bought
Boil-and-bite guards are better than nothing, but they tend to be bulky, loose, and hard to breathe through, so athletes take them out. Over-the-counter night guards are often too soft, and a soft guard can encourage more clenching.
A custom guard is made from a scan or impression of your own teeth. It fits closely, stays in place, and is thickened exactly where protection matters. It also accounts for crowns, implants, braces, or missing teeth.
Custom Guard Options
Athletic Mouth Guards
Made for any activity where a collision is possible. A custom sports guard stays put during play, allows practical breathing and speech, and helps shield teeth and dental work. It reduces risk but cannot prevent every injury.
Night Guards and Occlusal Guards
Designed to protect enamel, fillings, crowns, and veneers from grinding and clenching. A night guard may also ease morning jaw fatigue, but it manages force rather than curing every cause of jaw pain.
Appliance Checks
Bring your guard to routine visits. We look for cracks, wear, loose fit, and bite changes, and adjust or remake it when new dental work changes how it seats.
What to Expect When Getting a Custom Guard
Evaluation
We examine your teeth, restorations, and bite, ask about jaw soreness or headaches, and confirm what the guard is for.
Digital Scan or Impression
A 3Shape digital scan or traditional impression records the exact shape of your teeth. The scan is quick and avoids goopy material.
Fabrication
The guard is made in the material and thickness suited to its purpose, whether a resilient sports guard or a firm occlusal appliance.
Delivery and Adjustment
We seat the guard, fine-tune the fit and bite contacts, and review how to wear, clean, and store it.
Evaluating Wear, Bite, and Existing Dental Work
Before designing a guard, we review tooth wear, missing teeth, crowns, implants, and any planned treatment. A guard made before a new crown may no longer fit afterward, so tell us about every appliance you use when dental work is scheduled.
Jaw soreness, clicking, or headaches deserve a closer look, because grinding is not the only possible cause. If symptoms suggest a joint or muscle problem, we may recommend a TMJ treatment evaluation alongside a night guard.
Use and Care
- Rinse with cool water after each use and brush gently with a soft toothbrush and mild soap, not toothpaste.
- Let it dry fully before storing it in its ventilated case.
- Keep it away from heat, including hot water and car dashboards, which can warp it.
- Store it out of reach of pets. Dogs love to chew them.
- Do not trim, bend, or heat the guard yourself. Call us for an adjustment.
See our occlusal guard post-op instructions for the first days of wear.
Sports Protection Is Only One Layer
A mouth guard reduces the chance of injury, but helmets, face shields, and the rules of the sport matter too. If you take a hit to the mouth, remove the guard and check for:
- Bleeding from the gums or lips
- A tooth that feels loose, moved, or shorter
- Chips, cracks, or new sensitivity
- A bite that suddenly feels different
- Jaw pain or trouble opening
Call our office after any dental impact, even if everything looks fine; some damage is not visible. Our emergency dentistry page explains what to do while you wait.
Guards for Kids and Teens
A comfortable custom guard is more likely to stay in a child's mouth during practice. Growing mouths change, so kids' guards need checking more often. Our pediatric dentistry team can include a fitting in a regular checkup.
Questions, Answered
Custom Mouth Guard FAQs
Can I Use My Night Guard for Sports?
No. An occlusal night guard is hard and not designed to absorb impact. Wearing one for contact sports leaves your teeth vulnerable. If you play sports and grind at night, you need two separate guards.
Why Choose a Custom Guard Over a Store-Bought One?
A custom guard fits precisely, stays in place, is easier to breathe through, and is built to the right thickness for its purpose. A guard only works when you actually wear it.
How Often Should a Mouth Guard Be Replaced?
It depends on wear, grinding intensity, growth, and dental changes. Heavy grinders may wear through a night guard in a year or two; others get many years. Kids' sports guards usually need replacing each season.
How Do I Clean My Guard?
Rinse after every use, brush with a soft brush and mild soap, and let it dry before storing. Avoid hot water and toothpaste. Occasional soaking in a denture-cleaning solution is fine unless we advise otherwise.
Can a Night Guard Stop Me From Grinding?
A night guard protects your teeth from the damage grinding causes, but it does not stop the habit. Stress, sleep quality, bite issues, and airway problems can all play a role, and we will look at the bigger picture with you.
Do Kids Need a Mouth Guard?
Any child playing a contact or collision sport should wear one. Custom guards are especially helpful for kids with braces or a mix of baby and adult teeth.