Table of Content
How to Get a Night Guard Without Going to the Dentist
by Dylan Hao |
Jaw pain. Morning headaches. Sensitive teeth. Neck pain. Restless sleep.
What’s going on?
If you’re waking up with these problems, chances are it’s not your mattress or pillow. Instead, you may be grinding your teeth at night. A night guard is one of the simplest ways to protect your oral health and relieve the annoying symptoms you’ve noticed.
While a visit to the dentist is one route to a high-quality night guard, it isn’t your only option. For those who don’t have time for a dental appointment or want to avoid the high cost of custom guards, online dental labs can offer another solution. This guide explains how to get a night guard without going to the dentist using online dental labs. We'll cover exactly how these labs work, from ordering your kit to receiving your custom guard.
Do You Need a Dentist to Get a Night Guard?
The short answer is no. You don’t need a dentist to get a night guard. Cases of bruxism, both self-diagnosed and professionally determined, have skyrocketed, and the global night guard industry continues to grow. People who grind their teeth can buy night guards at their local pharmacies and online. Direct-to-consumer dental labs have made it possible to skip the dental visit and still get a high-quality, custom-made oral device.
However, there are some cases where a trip to your dental office for a custom-fitted night guard is recommended. If you have any of the following issues, it’s best to have a dentist diagnose the root cause and develop a treatment plan that includes night guards as part of the fix:
- Severe Temporomandibular Joint/Temporomandibular (TMJ/TMD) disorders or temporomandibular (TMD) disorders, or chronic jaw locking
- Significant bite misalignment (malocclusion)
- Complex dental issues, such as cracked, loose, or damaged teeth, gum disease, or other underlying oral health conditions
- Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) or other sleep disorders
- Persistent pain that hasn’t been addressed
These issues may point to a more serious problem beyond teeth clenching and overworked jaw muscles that requires attention. In some cases, such as TMJ or OSA, a night guard might not be the best solution, and your dentist can guide you toward the best alternatives or ways to stop grinding without using a custom mouthguard.
Benefits of a Custom Night Guard
On the other hand, many people have mild or moderate cases of sleep bruxism. If you fall into that category and just want to protect your teeth and relieve the annoying, painful symptoms of teeth grinding, a custom night guard can be the best option.
Dentist’s Office Night Guards
Traditionally, to get a night guard made, you’d schedule a dental appointment, have an exam, and your dentist would let you know how severe the damage from bruxism is to your teeth.
This route to getting a night guard involves several steps:
- Your first visit to your dentist to determine whether you do, in fact, have bruxism and, if so, the extent of the damage.
- Professional impressions, using digital imaging or a mold of your teeth, taken in office,
- Waiting for the impressions to be sent to a dental lab, fabricated, and returned,
- A follow-up fitting appointment,
- A checkup to ensure the night guard is working correctly.
While it’s effective, this route is also very time-consuming and expensive. If you already know you’re grinding and don’t have many other dental health complications, you can skip this arduous (and costly) process and go to a direct-to-consumer dental lab.
How Online Night Guard Labs Work
Ordering a night guard online is surprisingly simple, but searching for online night guard labs will bring up multiple options. These companies vary in factors like cost, quality, and customer service, but the process is similar across most of them.
Step 1: Order your kit
First, you’ll choose the type of night guard you need and place your order online. If you’re unsure whether you need an upper- or lower-arch appliance, or a soft, hard, or hybrid night guard for grinding, using a company known for top-tier customer service, like JS Dental Lab, can be helpful. The company sends you an impression kit with instructions.
Step 2: Take your impressions
Using the materials provided, you’ll create molds of your teeth at home. This step is critical because accurate impressions help ensure a proper fit. JS Dental Lab helps you every step of the way with written and video instructions, along with prompt customer service responses.
Step 3: Return the impressions to the lab
The most common reason for issues with mail-order night guards is an improper mold. JS Dental Lab’s experts connect with you before you return your impression, using photos or videos to verify that your results are accurate and troubleshoot any issues up front.
When your impressions are complete and approved, return them to the lab using the provided prepaid packaging.
Step 4: The lab fabricates the night guard
Dental technicians create your custom night guard using professional-grade materials, such as acrylic, thermoplastic, or silicone, and your exact dental mold. JS Dental Lab’s night guards are all made in the USA using medical-grade materials.
Step 5: The new night guard is delivered to your door
Your finished night guard is shipped directly to your door, and you’re ready to start using it! Some companies also offer warranties and will adjust or remake your night guard if the fit isn’t perfect.
This process is quick and easy, eliminating the need for multiple dental appointments to get a customized night guard tailored for you.
Custom Night Guard vs. Over-the-Counter: What's the Difference?
Although you’ll see a variety of night guard options, not all of them will give you the results you want. Understanding the differences between custom night guards and over-the-counter (OTC) oral appliances is important when choosing the right option for your grinding needs.
OTC Guards
Over-the-counter night guards are typically “boil-and-bite” or “one-size-fits-all.” Boil-and-bite guards can be molded to fit the arch of your upper or lower teeth, but they don’t capture the smaller contours of your teeth for the best protection. One-size-fits-all guards are ready to wear straight out of the package, but they’re not customizable.
While OTC guards do offer a lower upfront cost, they are usually bulky and less comfortable. Because they’re not customized, they may leave your teeth less protected. And because the material is often less durable, OTC guards tend to have a shorter lifespan, leading to more replacements over time.
These oral appliances may work as a temporary stopgap solution, but they aren’t ideal for long-term wear.
Custom Night Guards
Whether made through a dentist or an online lab, custom night guards use your unique impressions to provide an exact fit and a protective barrier against teeth grinding. Higher-quality, professional-grade materials shape the guard into a device that’s designed for optimal comfort and fit.
Using higher-quality materials also enables labs to craft flexible guards that fit your teeth exactly, providing more protection against grinding and improved durability. Overall, custom guards are more expensive initially, but if you’re looking for value, they are a better long-term investment.
How Much Does an Online Night Guard Cost vs. a Dentist?
Cost is one of the biggest reasons people look for alternatives to the traditional route of going to a dentist’s office. The cheapest solution is the over-the-counter night guard, which ranges from $27 to $50, but, as discussed, it isn’t the best long-term option. The next question is: how much does an online night guard cost compared to a dentist’s office version?
Online Custom Night Guard Costs
Depending on where you shop, online night guards typically range from $100 to $200. The details are where the differences show up:
- Does the company include impression kits (plus extras in case you need to do extra bites), shipping, and adjustments?
- Is there a warranty offered for replacement discounts or returns?
- How helpful and available is the company’s customer service?
Other price differences depend on the type of night guard. For instance, JS Dental Lab’s structure includes varied rates for light, moderate, and heavy grinders:
- Daytime guards for awake bruxism: $139
- Flex Armor for clenching protection: $149
- Soft night guards for ultimate comfort for light grinders and those with sensitive mouths: $149
- Hybrid (dual laminate) guards with a hard outer layer and soft inner layer for moderate grinding: $149
- Hard night guards, discoloration resistant, for heavy grinding: $159
- Premium 3D night guards, better calibrated for improved comfort: $189
Prices include the impression kit, shipping, adjustments, and warranty, as well as a discount for future replacements. If you’re not sure whether to get a hard, soft, or hybrid night guard, just ask our friendly customer service representatives!!
Dentist’s Office Night Guards
The professional-quality, custom-made night guards you can buy online are often the same kind you’d get from your dentist, without the hefty price tag. Dentist night guards range from $300-$800 or up, with additional costs for consultation, exams, and fittings
For many people, the choice of a night guard provider comes down to whether their insurance covers any part of it. Check with your dental plan to see what’s included, and be sure to ask about coverage limitations and your out-of-pocket costs at the dentist’s office. It may be a more cost-effective solution to shop online, especially if you have an HSA or FSA plan, like JS Dental Lab.
When comparing costs, think value over initial price: durability, comfort, effectiveness, and long-term replacement frequency.
Is an Online Custom Night Guard as Good as One From the Dentist?
It’s good to be skeptical when you’re considering ordering anything online, especially something as important as a night guard! Are online custom guards as good as the dentist’s office versions? In many cases, yes!
Both routes use professional dental labs that fabricate night guards from high-quality, dental-grade material. The biggest factor determining the quality of your online-ordered night guard is the accuracy of your impressions. If your mold is precise, your night guard can be just as effective and comfortable as one you’d get from your dentist.
However, it’s common to have side effects, such as mild discomfort, increased saliva, or temporary changes in sleep, as you adjust to wearing your new night guard, whether you got it online or from the dentist’s office. This short adjustment period is normal and should improve within a few nights.
How to Order a Night Guard Online: What to Look For
People with straightforward grinding issues don’t need the extra supervision and follow-ups that come with a dentist’s office night guard. They just need something to protect their teeth quickly. That’s where the right online night guard provider comes into the picture.
But choosing a company is a big step. You want a provider that doesn’t just offer high-quality products; they also create a smooth customer experience from start to finish and beyond.
As you compare online night guard providers, look for providers that:
- Use high-quality dental-grade materials
- Offer multiple types of night guards (soft, hybrid, hard)
- Provide a fit guarantee or warranty
- Are known for helpful and responsive customer service
- Have many positive reviews
- Have transparent pricing with no hidden fees
- Offer a reasonable turnaround time
Choosing the Right Night Guard
Different grinding levels require different materials, but choosing the right night guard thickness can be challenging at first. This breakdown, along with customer support from the company, can help you decide which type of night guard is right for you:
- Soft guards are best for mild grinding or for those with extra sensitive mouths who might not be able to wear a night guard if it feels too rigid.
- Hybrid guards work well for the average grinder with moderate bruxism.
- Hard guards are the go-to option for those with severe bruxism.
You’ll also need to choose whether the night guard goes over your upper or lower teeth.
Upper guards are more common and may be the most comfortable because they allow your tongue more freedom of movement. Lower guards can be better for certain bite patterns or if you think they would feel more comfortable. When you have dental restorations like a crown or dental implant that need to be protected, this may be the deciding factor between an upper- and lower-arch guard.
If you’re still undecided, this article provides more detail on choosing between upper and lower dental night guards.
Take some time to look at your options and choose the right type of night guard for your bruxism and comfort levels. Taking this step before you buy can lead to better results and a night guard you’ll wear for the long run.
Conclusion
Thanks to online dental labs and modern technology, you can absolutely get a night guard without going to the dentist. Gone are the days when custom, high-quality night guards were available only through a traditional dental visit with a heavy time commitment and high cost. Today, that route is generally best reserved for those with severe symptoms or underlying dental or medical issues that need supervision alongside their nighttime bruxism.
JS Dental Lab night guards provide a balance of affordability, convenience, and effectiveness to those who want to protect their teeth, reduce discomfort, and improve sleep. If that sounds like you, visit our easy-to-use online store and order your night guard today!
