Preventive & General
Protect Your Teeth From Night Grinding With a Custom Night Guard in Fort Myers
Custom-fitted guards that cushion your bite, protect your enamel and crowns, and help you wake up without a sore jaw or a morning headache.
What Nightly Teeth Grinding Does to Your Enamel
A night guard is a small, custom-fitted appliance you wear while you sleep. It sits between your upper and lower teeth and absorbs the pressure from grinding and clenching, called bruxism, so your enamel and any crowns do not take the hit night after night. Most people have no idea they grind, because it happens while they are fully asleep.
The key word is custom. A drugstore guard is molded to a generic shape, and some patients clench harder against a bulky tray and make the problem worse. Here we take a quick in-office digital scan, with no goopy impression trays, and build a guard to your exact bite so it stays comfortably in place all night.
Fitting a guard early is preventive care, the same philosophy behind our routine dental cleanings, where your dentist often spots the first signs of grinding on your enamel. Catching it early is far kinder to your teeth than repairing the cracked fillings and worn edges that grinding leaves behind.
Why a Custom Mouthguard Beats a Drugstore Tray
- Fits Your Exact Bite
Built from a digital scan of your teeth, not a one-size mold, so it seats securely and is easy to sleep in.
- Protects Enamel and Crowns
Cushions the grinding pressure that flattens teeth, cracks fillings, and wears down enamel that never grows back.
- Eases Morning Headaches
Takes strain off the muscles around your temples and jaw, which many patients feel most in those first-thing headaches.
- Made From a Quick Digital Scan
No messy trays and no multiple visits. The scan takes a few minutes and the fit is accurate from day one.
How We Fit Your Custom Night Guard
- Exam and Bite Check
Your dentist looks for the tell-tale signs of grinding, worn edges, sensitivity, and a tight jaw, and confirms a guard is the right call.
- Quick Digital Scan
We capture a precise digital scan of your teeth in a few minutes, so your guard is made for your bite and nobody else's.
- Fit and Follow-Up
We check the finished guard for comfort, show you how to wear and care for it, and adjust the fit if you need it.
Waking up with a sore jaw or a dull headache?
★★★★★
Almost fell asleep during cleaning. Very gentle, friendly, and professional. I've never had a dentist spend so much time ensuring I understand what's going on and how we're moving forward.
Questions
Night Guard Questions and Answers
How long does it take to get a custom night guard?
With in-office digital scanning, the process is quick. The scan itself takes just a few minutes, and most patients have their custom guard ready within a week or two, with no goopy impression trays.
Will a night guard be comfortable to sleep in?
A custom-fitted guard is designed specifically for your bite, so it is far more comfortable than a bulky store-bought version. Most patients adjust within a week or two of nightly wear.
Does insurance cover night guards?
Many dental plans cover a custom night guard, especially when grinding is documented at your exam. Our front desk verifies your benefits before your appointment so there is no guesswork, and CareCredit financing with up to 12 months interest-free is available.
How do I know if I am grinding my teeth while I sleep?
Common signs include a sore jaw in the morning, frequent tension headaches, teeth that look flatter or feel more sensitive, and a partner who notices grinding sounds at night. If grinding has already cracked a tooth, our emergency dentistry team can help right away, and your dentist can spot the wear during a routine exam.
Related Care
Care That Complements Your Occlusal Guard
Dental Cleanings
Routine cleanings and exams are where grinding wear is usually caught first, before it turns into damage.
Learn More →Emergency Dentistry
Cracked a tooth or lost a filling from clenching? We make room for urgent visits and treat the pain gently.
Learn More →Gum Disease Treatment
Protecting enamel is one half of preventive care. Healthy gums are the other, and we watch both at every visit.
Learn More →Stop the Grinding From Wearing Down Your Smile.
New patients welcome from Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Estero, Bonita Springs, and McGregor.