Most people who grind their teeth have no idea they are doing it. They find out when a partner mentions the noise, or when a dentist points out that the biting edges of their teeth have gone flat, or when they wake up with a headache for the third morning that week.
A custom night guard separates the teeth to help protect them from grinding-related damage. It does not address every cause of jaw pain or headache, so persistent symptoms need assessment. At Trinity Dental Services we make guards fitted to your teeth, not the boil-and-bite kind. Call (732) 613-1125 or book an appointment.
Bruxism — the clinical term for grinding and clenching — often happens during sleep, so the symptoms show up before the cause does. The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research publishes information on jaw joint and muscle disorders, which frequently overlap with grinding.
Enamel does not grow back. Once it is worn through, the softer dentine underneath wears far faster, which is why grinding tends to accelerate rather than plateau.
Beyond the teeth themselves, sustained clenching loads the jaw joint and the muscles around it — a common source of morning headaches and facial ache. And grinding is one of the leading causes of premature failure in crowns, veneers, and bridges. If you have invested in restorative or cosmetic work, a night guard protects that investment.
A custom guard is made from an impression or digital scan of your own teeth. It fits closely, sits at the correct thickness for your bite, and is made from a material chosen for how you grind. Most patients find they can actually sleep in it — which is the only measure that matters, because a guard in a drawer protects nothing.
Comfortable enough to actually wear
Over-the-counter guards are inexpensive and available tonight. They are also bulky, imprecise, and often uncomfortable enough that people stop wearing them within a fortnight.
Custom guards also last considerably longer, which narrows the real-world cost gap more than the sticker price suggests.
Dr. Youstina Mantias checks your teeth for wear patterns, examines your jaw joint and muscles, and reviews your symptoms. Wear facets tell a clear story about how you grind.
We capture the shape of your teeth and how your jaws meet.
Your guard is made to those specifications, in a material and thickness suited to your case. We check the fit, adjust the bite so pressure is even across the guard, and show you how to insert, remove, clean, and store it.
We check in after you have slept in it, and adjust if anything is rubbing. Small adjustments early make the difference between a guard you wear and one you abandon.
A guard that is looked after keeps its fit, and a guard that keeps its fit is one you keep wearing.
A night guard and a sports mouthguard are different appliances with different jobs. A night guard manages sustained grinding forces; a sports guard absorbs sudden impact.
If you or your child plays contact sports, ask about a custom sports mouthguard — see family dentistry.
Night guard cost depends on the material and design. Many dental plans contribute toward a guard when it is prescribed to treat bruxism, though coverage varies and some plans limit how often one is replaced. Worth framing honestly: a night guard costs a fraction of what it costs to restore teeth that have been ground down for a decade.
We accept Delta Dental, MetLife, Cigna, Guardian, UnitedHealthcare, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Aetna, and verify coverage before treatment.
Benefits checked in advance
Flexible monthly payments toward the out-of-pocket balance.
A healthcare credit line accepted at our office.
Available for patients without insurance. Ask us what applies to you.
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM. Saturday 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM. Closed Wednesday and Sunday. Evening appointments until 7:00 PM and Saturday hours make it easier to fit treatment around work and school. Our team is fluent in English and Arabic.
Mon 10–7
Tue 10–7
Wed Closed
Thu 10–7
Fri 10–7
Sat 10–5
Sun Closed
63 W Prospect St #1. Closed Wednesdays and Sundays. English and Arabic spoken.
Common signs include waking with headaches or jaw soreness, teeth that look flattened or shorter than they used to, increased sensitivity, chipped enamel, and restorations that repeatedly fail. A dentist can also identify characteristic wear patterns during an examination.
A custom guard is made from an impression of your own teeth, so it fits closely, sits at the right thickness for your bite, and is comfortable enough to actually sleep in. Over-the-counter guards are bulkier and imprecise, and many people stop wearing them within weeks.
A night guard does not stop the grinding itself. It separates the teeth so grinding forces are absorbed by the guard rather than by your enamel and restorations, which protects the teeth and often reduces jaw muscle soreness.
It depends heavily on how forcefully you grind. Some guards last several years; heavy grinders wear through them faster. Bring yours to checkups so we can assess it.
Many dental plans contribute when a guard is prescribed to treat bruxism, though coverage levels and replacement frequency limits vary. We verify your benefits before treatment.
Most patients adapt within one to two weeks. Some awareness of the guard in the first few nights is normal. If it feels like it is pressing unevenly or rubbing, come back in for an adjustment rather than giving up on it.
Yes, and it is particularly worth doing. Grinding is one of the most common reasons crowns, veneers, and bridges fail earlier than expected.
Rinse in cool water each morning and brush gently with a soft toothbrush and no toothpaste. Let it dry completely before storing it in its ventilated case. Never use hot water, which distorts the material.
If you are waking with headaches or your teeth look shorter than they used to, come in and let us look at the wear pattern.
Call (732) 613-1125 or book online. 63 W Prospect St #1, East Brunswick, NJ 08816.
