Night Guards & Snore Guards at Avon Dental
Most people who grind their teeth don't know it — until they wake up with a sore jaw, a morning headache, or a dentist points out the wear patterns on their enamel. Custom night guards from Avon Dental are precisely fitted to your bite, made from professional-grade materials, and designed to protect your teeth from the forces of bruxism you can't control in your sleep. We also fit custom snore guards and oral appliances for patients dealing with disruptive snoring and mild sleep-disordered breathing.
Bruxism is silent damage — until it isn't
Teeth grinding during sleep happens with forces your jaw was never designed to sustain for hours at a time. The damage is cumulative and permanent once enamel is gone.
Bruxism can generate over 250 pounds of force on teeth — compared to the 20–40 lbs used during normal chewing. Enamel doesn't grow back.
An estimated one in three adults experiences sleep bruxism at some point — most without a formal diagnosis until a dentist spots the damage.
A well-made hard acrylic custom guard can last up to five years — absorbing grinding forces so your teeth and restorations don't have to.
Mandibular advancement devices (snore guards) reduce snoring by approximately 45% by repositioning the jaw to keep the airway open during sleep.
How to know if you're grinding your teeth
Because bruxism happens during sleep, most people discover it from a dentist — not from feeling it. But your body leaves clues. These are the signs that warrant a conversation about a custom night guard.
- Morning jaw soreness or stiffness — the muscles worked all night and are letting you know
- Dull headaches that start at the temples — often described as a hatband around the head, worst when you wake up
- Tooth sensitivity that's getting worse — worn enamel exposes the underlying dentin, increasing sensitivity to temperature and sweets
- Flattened or chipped tooth edges — front teeth that once had a natural scalloped edge are now flat or notched
- Facial muscle fatigue or tightness — the masseter (jaw) muscles become enlarged and tender from constant overuse
- Cracked or fractured teeth — especially teeth that crack without an obvious cause like biting something hard
- A partner reporting grinding sounds — the audible grinding noise during sleep is a definitive sign
- Daytime clenching — noticing yourself clenching during stress, concentration, or driving
A dentist can confirm bruxism during a routine exam by identifying wear patterns, micro-fractures, and enlarged masseter muscles. If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, mention them at your next visit — or call us sooner.
Three types of custom oral appliances — matched to your situation
Not all grinding is the same, and not all appliances serve the same purpose. We'll recommend the right type based on the severity of your bruxism and your specific symptoms.
Soft Night Guard
Made from flexible, resilient material, soft guards are the most comfortable option for patients who clench occasionally or have mild bruxism. They're easy to get used to and ideal for patients new to wearing an appliance.
Not recommended for heavy grinders — the soft material can actually encourage chewing behavior and typically needs replacement within 6 months under heavy use.
Dual-Laminate Guard
Dual-laminate guards combine a soft inner layer for comfort against the teeth with a hard acrylic outer shell for durability. They provide the comfort benefits of soft guards with the longevity and protection of hard guards.
The most versatile option — appropriate for the majority of bruxism patients, lasting anywhere from 1 to 5 years depending on grinding severity.
Mandibular Advancement Device
A snore guard works differently from a bruxism guard. Rather than creating a barrier between teeth, it gently advances the lower jaw (mandible) forward during sleep. This repositioning keeps the throat muscles taut and prevents the airway from collapsing — the mechanical cause of snoring.
MADs are the dentist-prescribed alternative to CPAP for mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea and are clinically shown to reduce snoring by approximately 45%.
Your enamel doesn't grow back. A night guard means you never have to find out how much you're losing.
Get Fitted for a Night GuardCustom night guard vs. store-bought — is it worth it?
Pharmacy boil-and-bite guards look similar to custom guards. The experience — and the protection — are completely different. Here's an honest comparison.
| Custom Night Guard (Dental Office) | Store-Bought / Boil-and-Bite | |
|---|---|---|
| Fit | ✓ Precision-fitted to your exact bite | ✗ Generic — approximate fit at best |
| Comfort | ✓ Thin, stays in place, barely noticeable | ✗ Bulky, often falls out during sleep |
| Protection level | ✓ Distributes force evenly across all teeth | ✗ Uneven pressure can worsen jaw strain |
| Bite safety | ✓ Calibrated to your occlusion — no bite shift | ✗ Poor fit can shift teeth alignment over time |
| Material | ✓ Professional-grade acrylic or dual-laminate | ✗ Soft thermoplastic — degrades quickly |
| Lifespan | ✓ 1 to 5 years depending on material and grind severity | ✗ Weeks to a few months for heavy grinders |
| Replaceability | ✓ Digital impressions saved — reprint without new impressions | ✗ Must re-purchase and re-fit each time |
Important: grinding may be linked to your airway — not just stress
Modern sleep medicine has identified a strong connection between sleep bruxism and obstructive sleep apnea. When oxygen levels drop during an apnea event, the brain triggers jaw clenching as a survival mechanism to reopen the airway. If you grind your teeth and snore, wake up gasping, or feel chronically fatigued during the day, mention this to us — a standard bruxism guard may not be the right first step, and we'll discuss whether a sleep study or mandibular advancement device is more appropriate for your situation.
Protecting your teeth while you sleep
From the impression to the final fitting, here's what makes a night guard from Avon Dental different from anything you'll find over the counter.
Digital Impressions — No Goop
We use intraoral scanning to capture a precise 3D digital map of your teeth — no trays of messy putty, no gagging. The scan takes a few minutes and produces a more accurate model than traditional impressions.
Professional Lab Fabrication
Your guard is made by a certified dental lab using professional-grade materials — not thermoplastic you soften in your microwave. The difference in durability and fit is significant.
Bite Calibration at Fitting
When you pick up your guard, we check your bite carefully and make any needed adjustments chairside. A guard that shifts your bite even slightly can cause more jaw strain than it prevents — we make sure that doesn't happen.
Insurance Billing Handled
Many dental insurance plans partially cover custom night guards when prescribed for bruxism or TMJ. We verify your coverage before fabrication and walk through what's covered so there are no surprises.
All Three Appliance Types
Soft guards, dual-laminate guards, and mandibular advancement devices — all available in-house. We match the appliance type to your clinical situation, not to a one-size-fits-all protocol.
Same Team, Long-Term Care
We monitor your guard at every checkup — checking for wear, adjusting fit as your bite evolves, and catching new signs of bruxism damage before they become expensive restorative problems.
Protecting what took years to build
Enamel damage from bruxism is permanent. Every year without a night guard is a year of wear that can't be undone — wear that eventually leads to sensitivity, fractures, failing restorations, and costly rebuilds. A custom guard is one of the most cost-effective investments in your dental health you can make.
Our dentists diagnose bruxism at routine exams, recommend the right appliance type for your situation, and follow up at every visit to make sure your guard is still doing its job. If you've been told before that you grind your teeth and never followed through on getting a guard, let's fix that at your next appointment.
Learn more about our TMJ treatment options, or explore our complete list of services. Meet our team.
Common Questions About Night Guards & Snore Guards
How do I know if I need a night guard?
Is a custom night guard really better than a store-bought one?
Can a night guard stop snoring?
How long does a custom night guard last?
How do I clean my night guard?
Does insurance cover night guards?
What's the difference between a night guard and a TMJ splint?
How long does it take to get a custom night guard?
Wake up without the jaw pain. It starts with one appointment.
Getting fitted for a custom night guard takes one short visit. The protection it provides lasts years. Book a consultation and we'll assess your grinding, recommend the right appliance, and get you started.
Our Featured Services
Comprehensive Family Care
The tradition of family is central to every visit at Avon Dental. Our goal is to treat patients with the same care and compassion we would our own families. As general dentists who do not believe in one-size-fits-all care, Our Doctors consult with each patient, from children through adults, to provide comprehensive treatment solutions unique to each person.
3-D Guided Implants
When it comes to dental implants, accuracy is everything. With the latest 3-D imaging, implants at Avon Dental are taken to a new level of precision.
Same-Day Crowns
With Avon Dental Associates’ state-of-the-art CEREC machine, patients can receive beautiful crowns, often during just one appointment, instead of waiting weeks to get their crowns back from the lab. Teeth are quickly restored without any messy impressions, which means a lower cost and better results than with traditional treatment.
