Night Guards
Dr. Shahdad Arami, DDS provides night guards at Northridge Dental Group.Many people grind or clench their teeth at night without ever knowing it. A custom night guard acts like a cushion between your upper and lower teeth, absorbing that pressure so your enamel and jaw do not have to.
You may be grinding without realizing it
Grinding happens during sleep, so most people find out from a partner or from a dentist spotting the wear. These are the clues worth mentioning at your next visit.
- Waking up with a sore jaw or facial muscles
- Headaches that are worst in the morning
- Teeth that look flattened, chipped, or worn down
- Increased tooth sensitivity
- A partner who hears grinding at night
- Tight or tired jaw muscles during the day
Why a custom guard fits differently
Custom night guard
Made for your mouth- Molded from impressions of your own teeth
- Stays in place through the night
- Built from durable material meant for long-term wear
- Thickness matched to how heavily you grind
- Checked and adjusted at your follow-up visits
Store-bought guard
One size fits most- Generic shape, often boil-and-bite
- Can shift or fall out during sleep
- Tends to wear through faster
- Bulk can make it uncomfortable to sleep in
- No professional fit check
Two visits, start to finish
Exam and evaluation
Dr. Arami checks your teeth for wear patterns and asks about your symptoms to confirm a night guard is the right fit.
Impressions
Impressions of your teeth go to the lab, where your guard is fabricated to match your bite exactly.
Fitting
You come back to try it on. Small adjustments are made so it sits comfortably and stays put overnight.
Grinding is often a symptom of something else
A night guard protects your teeth, but it helps to understand why the grinding is happening. Dr. Farshid Ariz is a Diplomate of the American Board of Craniofacial Pain, and grinding frequently overlaps with jaw pain and sleep-related concerns he treats through dental sleep medicine and craniofacial pain care.
That means you can start with a guard and, if symptoms point deeper, continue with a specialist in the same practice. Night guards are part of our preventative dentistry care, serving San Fernando Valley families since 1974.
Frequently asked questions
A night guard is a custom-made appliance worn while you sleep. It sits between your upper and lower teeth and absorbs the force of grinding or clenching, protecting your enamel from wear and easing strain on your jaw.
Common signs include waking with a sore jaw, morning headaches, increased tooth sensitivity, or teeth that look flattened or chipped. Because grinding happens during sleep, many patients first learn about it from a partner or from a dentist noticing the wear.
A custom guard is molded from impressions of your own teeth, so it fits closely, stays in place overnight, and is built from material meant for long-term wear. Store-bought guards use a generic shape, which can make them bulky, prone to shifting, and quicker to wear through.
Usually two. The first visit covers the exam and impressions of your teeth, which go to the lab. At the second visit you try the guard on and Dr. Arami makes small adjustments so it fits comfortably.
Rinse it right after you take it out each morning and brush it gently with a soft toothbrush. Store it dry in its case, away from heat, since heat can warp the material. Bring it to your regular checkups so we can look it over.
Coverage varies by plan. Northridge Dental Group accepts most major PPO dental plans, and some include partial coverage for night guards when they are recommended to treat grinding. Our team can help verify your benefits before treatment begins.
Ready to stop waking up sore?
Book an exam with Dr. Arami to find out whether a night guard is right for you. Most major PPO dental plans are accepted, and new patients are always welcome.