What Is the Benefit of a Dual-Laminate Night Guard?

If you’re dealing with tooth wear, a night guard is frequently the first — and easiest — solution. Dual-laminate night guards help people avoid tooth-to-tooth contact, reducing the damage to their occlusal (chewing) surfaces.

This type of wear-and-tear, known as dental attrition, occurs with sleep disorders such as bruxism and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). While OSA is a dangerous condition usually managed by a healthcare provider, bruxism (teeth grinding) is harder to treat since its cause can be challenging to pinpoint. 

Most people who grind their teeth do so because of stress or anxiety, making bruxism a secondary diagnosis to the primary problem. Dual-laminate night guards can allow the jaw muscles to rest and prevent teeth from developing more wear and tear while you work on resolving the underlying issue.

In this guide, we’ll share more about the benefits of a dual-laminate night guard to help you decide if this kind of orthotic device is right for your grinding needs.

What Are Dual-Laminate Night Guards?

The term “dual-laminate” refers to a night guard made of two layers: a soft inner core that provides comfort and a hard outer layer designed for durability.

But what’s the difference between dual-laminate and all the other night guard options? The answer is: a lot!

The Evolution of Mouth Guards vs. Night Guards

The primary purpose of a night guard is to keep the upper and lower teeth from making contact, reducing grinding and minimizing dental damage.

However, the original night guard, developed in 1890 by Woolf Krause, a dentist in London, wasn’t very comfortable. It was made from a latex rubber called gutta-percha, eventually leading to the more common mouth guards used in boxing and other contact sports.

Still, the point was to protect the teeth from sleep grinding. If the appliance wasn’t comfortable, who would actually use it?

Nearly a century later, the solution appeared in the form of a new technology called ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA). Using high heat and pressure, mouthguards were formed from this dental plastic. This technology gave rise to other thermoplastics, offering patients a range of night guards to choose from, depending on whether they wanted something:

• Uber-sensitive (soft guards)
• Extra durable (hard guards)
• A combination (dual-laminate guards)

Also called bilaminar splints, these handy appliances utilize materials like EVA to create a soft inner layer that encourages long-term wear and a harder outer layer that prevents teeth from grinding through the guard.

Benefits of a Dual-Laminate Guard

If you’re out for a comfortable night’s sleep, you might assume that a soft splint is the way to go. However, professionals suggest that this type of night guard should be used on an emergency-only basis, as they can do more harm than good. Severe bruxers find they brux more with these guards because the material is chewy.

On the other hand, hard acrylic splints may sacrifice comfort for durability. They’re often prescribed for those with severe bruxism. But if you can’t sleep because your night guard is digging into your soft tissue, the odds that you’ll actually wear it will decline, regardless of your severe grinding behaviors.

Enter the beneficial dual-laminate night guard. Compressible, yet durable. Comfortable, yet efficient. It’s a win-win oral appliance that is statistically shown to decrease damage from grinding and increase consistent use. 

Because they’re more comfortable, it’s easier to be compliant and wear them regularly. Severe grinders can chew through them, but mild and moderate bruxers can wear them safely.

While over-the-counter and boil-and-bite night guards are usually cheaper, they don’t last as long as a professional, custom-made one. Instead of replacing a cheaper version multiple times a year, getting a dual-laminate splint is more cost-effective.

How Do Night Guards Reduce Attrition (Tooth Wear)?

Night guards, also known as occlusal guards or splints, are designed to act as a barrier between the upper and lower teeth. The guard slides over one arch (either the top or bottom teeth) and keeps the two from touching. 

Without this connection, the teeth can’t gain traction and grind against each other — the act that causes tooth wear via attrition damage.

Even though the person may continue the bruxing movements, the night guard reduces the impact and distributes the forces more evenly. This results in protection for the teeth from excessive strain that could lead to cracks and breaks. 

Night guards are vital for grinders with dental restorations (crowns, veneers, implants, and other dental fixes). Without protecting the physical barrier, the person may grind hard enough to damage the restoration.

Types of Night Guards

A search engine query of “night guards” can bring you an overwhelming number of options. Do you head to Amazon, like most of us do for our purchases, or visit the dentist? Does your local pharmacy have a cheaper version? And do you need a mouth guard, night guard, or splint?

All these questions can be confusing. First, we’ll knock out the easiest one: If you want to protect your teeth from contact sports, use a mouth guard. If you need protection from grinding or jaw pain relief, a night guard is the better bet.

Over-the-Counter Night Guards

Under the umbrella of night guards, you have OTC night guards, which are the cheapest and easiest to find. On the downside, they aren’t custom-fit and are made from subpar material. 

This makes them not only easy to grind through, but potentially dangerous. If the guard doesn’t fit your mouth properly, the grinding pressure is unevenly distributed, causing extra pressure in some spots and possibly forcing your teeth to shift.

Professional-Grade Night Guards

Beyond OTC, you’ll find professional-grade, custom-made night guards. These incredible appliances are designed using impressions of your teeth for a perfect fit. 

Where Can You Get Dual-Laminate Night Guards?

You can get professional night guards from your dentist, but the price tag includes expensive office visits, fittings, and extra dental laboratory fees. 

Or, you can find the same quality and style at JS Dental Lab, where our friendly experts are available to help you decide which kind of night guard you need:

• Soft - Most comfortable, but easy to grind through
• Hard - Most durable for heavy grinding, but can be challenging to get used to wearing
• Hybrid - Dual-laminate guards that are both comfortable and durable, with a soft inner layer and a hard outer layer for optimal cushioning

Finding the best night guard can be a process. Whether you use the dentist’s office or an online lab, you’ll need to do a fitting (impression or mold), wait for the final product, and make sure it’s comfortable. 

At JS Dental Lab, we’re with you every step of the way, with an easy-order system and hands-on walk-through of our impression kit to simplify the whole thing!

How to Care For Dual-Laminate Night Guards

Once you get your high-quality night guard and start using it regularly, the next step is keeping it clean. Like anything you put in your mouth, your dual-laminate guard is a haven for bacteria to breed. 

While you can’t do anything about bacteria and germs in general, you can keep them from taking over and making you sick by cleaning your oral appliance.

Daily Cleanings

The good news is that caring for your new night guard is easy. The quickest way is to spritz it with cleaner spray (such as JS Dental Lab’s night guard spray in a yummy spearmint flavor!).

This refreshing cleaner eliminates 99.9% of odor-causing bacteria and only takes 30 seconds to work. Simply remove the night guard from your mouth, spray it on all sides and surfaces, and wait half a minute for it to dry. You’re done! 

For best results, store the appliance in a clean, dry place, like the case that comes with it if you get your night guard from us. (The spray is made with Xylitol and contains no sugar, alcohol, or peroxide.)

Monthly Cleanings

In addition to your daily spray, a monthly deep clean is advised. This can be done with an all-natural cleaning routine using ingredients like vinegar and hydrogen peroxide (How to Clean Your Mouth Guard) and OTC dental cleaners like Efferdent for dentures.

The easiest and most effective way to kill the microorganisms that want to call your night guard home, though, is an ultrasonic cleaner. Our LED light cleaner doubles as a deep cleaner for all your sensitive possessions, from your toothbrush and retainer to your jewelry.

Ultrasonic technology uses high-frequency energy to create high-powered bubbles that get in between the nooks and crannies of your night guard to cleanse them of debris. Our UVC (Ultraviolet type C) mode then uses LED lights to eliminate 99% of oral bacteria, all within a few minutes.

What Not to Use to Clean Your Night Guard

Knowing how to care for your night guard includes understanding what not to do. 

Anything with hot water and harsh chemicals is a no. Never put your night guard in the dishwasher or expose it to hot temperatures, as the heat can warp the material. 

Chemicals, including toothpaste, bleach, or alcohol-based cleaners, are also potentially dangerous to the night guard’s longevity. Using mouthwash to soak the appliance should only be done as directed from your night guard’s manufacturer.

Be sure to let your night guard dry thoroughly on a napkin or towel before placing it in its case. Keep the storage case in a dry environment at room temperature to prevent bacterial growth.

Conclusion

Clenching and grinding don’t mix when you’re aiming for a good night’s sleep and less jaw pain. To prevent the symptoms that come from bruxism, a custom night guard is on the menu. 

Like Goldilocks, you want one that’s not too hard, not too soft, but just right. Luckily, our JS Dental Lab dual-laminate hybrid night guard isn’t a fairy tale. 

Add one to your cart and enjoy our smooth checkout process. We’ll walk you through creating a model dental impression at home to ensure a comfortable fit and simple customer experience!