Night Guard NYC — Custom Guards for Teeth Grinding and Clenching

A custom hard acrylic night guard is priced as a package that includes digital scans, the guard, and one adjustment visit. Soft guards cost less; dual-laminate runs slightly higher. We provide a written estimate at consultation.

Many PPO plans cover occlusal guards at 50–80%, often subject to a once-every-three-or-five-year clause. Coverage typically requires documentation of bruxism (wear patterns, TMJ symptoms, or fractured teeth). Medical insurance occasionally covers guards when TMJ disorder is the primary diagnosis. Centre Dental provides documentation; reimbursement varies.

Common signs: morning jaw soreness or headaches, flattened biting edges on canines and premolars, micro-fractures or chips in tooth enamel, recession on otherwise healthy gums, increased tooth sensitivity, and a sleep partner reporting grinding sounds. We identify wear patterns at exam visits before patients are symptomatic; the wear pattern is the most reliable diagnostic.

No — bruxism is a multi-factorial condition (stress, airway, malocclusion, medications) and a guard does not address the cause. What it does is intercept the damage so the next ten years look like the last one rather than worse. Guards are the best practical answer because the upstream causes are difficult to fully eliminate; they protect teeth while you address what you can address.

Two visits over two to three weeks: a 30-minute appointment for digital scans and bite registration, then a 30-minute delivery and adjustment appointment when the lab returns the guard. We adjust the bite on the guard with articulating paper until contact is balanced before you leave.

Yes — bruxism happens nightly to varying degrees, and inconsistent wear undoes much of the protection. Most patients adapt to the guard within one to two weeks. If the guard makes sleep significantly worse after three weeks, return for re-evaluation; that usually indicates a fit or thickness issue we can adjust.

There is documented overlap between bruxism and obstructive sleep apnea in published data — many patients have both. If you grind, snore, and wake unrefreshed, we recommend a sleep study to evaluate for OSA. Treating the apnea sometimes reduces or eliminates the grinding; addressing only the grinding without screening for apnea misses the bigger picture.