Grinding confirmed before anything is made
The wear pattern on your teeth, cracks, broken fillings and the jaw muscles are examined first, so a guard is made for a real problem, not a guess.
Protection for grinders
Custom Night Guards in Dubai
A night guard is custom-made from a scan or impression of your teeth and adjusted so your bite meets it evenly. It protects teeth and restorations from grinding; it does not cure the habit.
- Made from a scan or impression
- Adjusted to your bite
- TMJ assessment if your jaw hurts
If a partner has heard you grinding, or you wake with a sore jaw, mention it when you book.
Quick answer
Do I need a custom night guard for teeth grinding?
If you grind or clench at night and it is wearing, chipping or cracking your teeth or restorations, a custom night guard is usually the first protective step. At Creative Arts in Dubai the grinding is confirmed first, then the guard is made from a scan or impression of your teeth and adjusted so your bite meets it evenly. It protects teeth from wear; evidence that it reduces the grinding itself is limited.
Who treats you here Dr. Valeriia Kozachenko Specialist Orthodontist · Dr. Kinan Bonni Dentist · Dr. Marina Antoniuk Dentist
Every dentist’s licence can be checked on the DHA Sheryan medical directory.
27 yearsIn-house dental laboratory in the same building
Written planItemised treatment plan before you commit
Open daily10:00–20:00, seven days a week
Jumeirah 3614 Jumeira St, Umm Suqeim 1, Dubai
Why patients choose us
Why Creative Arts for a custom night guard
A night guard is simple to make. Most of the value is in deciding whether you need one, fitting it properly and dealing with what grinding has already done.
Made from your teeth, adjusted to your bite
The guard is custom-made from a scan or impression of your teeth, then adjusted at fitting so your teeth meet it evenly and the jaw is not pushed into an awkward position.
Jaw pain is assessed properly
If your main problem is pain, clicking with pain or locking, a TMJ assessment with Dr. Valeriia Kozachenko, Specialist Orthodontist with a focus on jaw function, comes first.
Damage repaired once teeth are protected
Dr. Kinan Bonni and Dr. Marina Antoniuk restore worn, chipped or cracked teeth, and plan the guard around new crowns or veneers so the repair lasts.
What it does
What does a night guard actually do, and what does it not do?
A night guard, also called an occlusal splint, is a thin, rigid or semi-rigid appliance that fits over one arch of teeth while you sleep. When you grind or clench, your teeth meet the guard instead of each other. That has three practical effects: the wear goes into the guard rather than your enamel, crowns or veneers; the load is spread across the arch, which many people find eases morning jaw ache; and the guard's own wear marks give a record of how heavily you grind.
What a guard does not do is cure grinding. A 2007 Cochrane review of occlusal splints for sleep bruxism concluded that splints may protect the teeth from wear, but that there is not enough evidence they reduce the grinding itself. Most people keep grinding, into the guard instead of on their teeth, which is the point. The habit is reduced, where it can be, by dealing with what drives it: stress, poor sleep, late caffeine and alcohol, and sometimes medicines.
For the causes, signs and the full range of treatment for the habit, see teeth grinding (bruxism). This page is about the guard itself.
Guards compared
Custom night guard, pharmacy guard, sports mouthguard or retainer?
These appliances look similar but are made for different jobs. Wearing the wrong one for grinding can be uncomfortable or even counter-productive.
| What it is for | How it fits | Suitable for night grinding? | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Custom night guard | Protecting teeth and restorations from grinding and clenching during sleep | Made from a scan or impression of your teeth; thin, close-fitting and adjusted to your bite | Yes; it is designed for this |
| Pharmacy boil-and-bite guard | A short-term, low-cost stopgap | Softened in hot water and bitten into; bulky, and does not match your bite | Only briefly; some people grind more on a soft, thick guard, and it can wear through quickly |
| Sports mouthguard | Absorbing impact during contact sports | Thick and soft, to cushion blows | No; it is not designed for long nightly wear or grinding |
| Orthodontic retainer | Holding teeth in position after braces or aligners | Thin and made to your teeth, but not designed to take grinding forces | No; grinding can crack or wear through it. Ask whether one appliance can serve both roles; see retainers |
A night guard is not a treatment for snoring or sleep apnoea. If you snore loudly, stop breathing at night or are very sleepy during the day, see your doctor for a medical assessment.
Design
How is a night guard designed for your mouth?
There is no single standard guard. These are the decisions made at your examination and fitting, and why.
Upper or lower arch
Most guards cover one arch. The choice depends on your bite, which teeth carry crowns, veneers or implants, missing teeth and what feels least bulky to you.
Hard or softer material
Firmer guards generally hold up better to heavy grinding and are easier to adjust precisely; softer ones can feel more comfortable at first but may wear faster. Your dentist explains which suits your grinding.
A smooth biting surface
The surface is adjusted so the opposite teeth touch it evenly and can glide without catching. Uneven contacts are what make a poorly fitted guard uncomfortable.
As thin as it can safely be
Thick enough to protect and last, thin enough to sleep in. A guard you cannot tolerate does nothing in its case.
Who it suits
Is a night guard right for you?
A guard is the usual first step for night grinding with visible damage. Some situations need something else first, or as well.
A night guard usually suits you if
- Your teeth are flattening, chipping or cracking from grinding
- You wake with tired or aching jaw muscles or a temple headache
- Fillings, crowns or veneers keep breaking
- You have new crowns, veneers or implant restorations and you grind
- A partner or family member hears you grinding at night
Something else may come first if
- Your jaw locks, or pain, clicking with pain or limited opening is the main problem: start with a TMJ assessment
- A tooth is cracked or painful, or you have untreated decay or gum disease: these are treated first
- You snore loudly or stop breathing at night: that needs a medical opinion, not a night guard
- You are in active orthodontic treatment: speak to your orthodontist first
- A young child grinds on baby teeth: wear is usually monitored rather than guarded; see children's dentistry
Step by step
How a custom night guard is made and fitted
Typically two visits and a review. Timing between the visits is confirmed when you book.
Examination
Your history, the wear pattern, cracks, broken restorations, the jaw joints and muscles. X-rays only if a tooth needs checking. Anything urgent is dealt with first.
Visit 1Scan or impression
An intraoral scan or impression records your teeth and bite, so the guard can be made to fit your mouth rather than a standard shape.
Visit 1Fitting and adjustment
The guard is tried in, checked for retention and comfort, and the biting surface adjusted until your teeth meet it evenly. You are shown how to put it in, take it out and clean it.
Visit 2The first nights
Extra saliva and a sense of fullness are common for the first few nights and usually settle within a week or two. Teeth may feel slightly tight in the morning at first.
First weeksReview
If anything rubs, your bite feels different for more than a short time after removing it, or you cannot sleep with it, it is adjusted. After that, bring it to every check-up.
As needed
Care
How to look after a night guard, and when to replace it
- Every morning: rinse it in cool water and brush it gently with a soft brush. Avoid toothpaste, which is abrasive and scratches the surface.
- Let it dry, then keep it in its case. A guard left on the bedside table is easily lost, stepped on or chewed by a pet.
- No hot water. Heat can distort the guard so it no longer fits.
- Brush your teeth before putting it in. Food and sugar trapped under a guard all night sit against the enamel.
- Bring it to check-ups. The fit and the wear pattern are checked, and the wear tells the dentist how heavily you are grinding.
How long a guard lasts depends on how hard you grind: some last years, others show wear much sooner. Replace or remake it if it cracks, wears through, becomes loose or stops fitting after new crowns, fillings or orthodontic movement.
Grinding with veneers, crowns or implants
Ceramic is strong but can chip or crack under grinding forces, and implants lack the cushioning ligament of a natural tooth, so heavy loads pass straight into the implant and its screw. If you grind, a night guard is usually advised after veneers, crowns or implant restorations, and the guard is planned around the new work. Read veneers and teeth grinding, or see how worn teeth are repaired once they are protected.
Jaw pain
Night guard or TMJ treatment: which do you need?
Grinding and jaw-joint problems often overlap, but they are not the same. Many people grind with no jaw pain, and some have jaw pain without grinding. A guard made only to protect teeth is a different appliance, with a different aim, from a splint chosen as part of TMJ care.
If pain in the jaw or around the ear, clicking with pain, locking or limited opening is your main concern, start with a TMJ assessment. Dr. Valeriia Kozachenko examines the joint and muscles; a splint may be discussed alongside other conservative, reversible measures. Our guide to TMJ treatment options explains the full range.
Who treats you
The dentists who assess grinding and fit night guards
Dr. Kinan Bonni and Dr. Marina Antoniuk assess the teeth, fit guards and repair grinding damage. Dr. Valeriia Kozachenko, Specialist Orthodontist, assesses jaw joint and muscle symptoms.
Cost
What sets the cost of a custom night guard?
The guard itself is one item. What else is needed depends on what grinding has already done.
- AssessmentThe examination of teeth, wear and jaw muscles, with X-rays only if a tooth needs checking.
- The guardOne custom guard for the upper or lower arch, made from a scan or impression and adjusted at fitting.
- Repairs firstCracked teeth, broken fillings or decay that need treating before the guard is made.
- Jaw assessmentA separate TMJ assessment if jaw pain, clicking with pain or locking is part of the picture.
Sources
Clinical statements on this page are consistent with these independent sources. They describe averages from studies, not a promise for any one patient.
- Macedo CR et al.. Occlusal splints for treating sleep bruxism (tooth grinding). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2007.
Patient questions
Frequently asked questions
Will a night guard stop me grinding my teeth?
Usually not. Research suggests splints protect the teeth from wear, but there is not enough evidence that they reduce the grinding itself. Most people keep grinding into the guard instead of on their teeth, which is what protects the enamel and restorations. Managing stress, sleep, caffeine and alcohol is what reduces the habit, where it can be reduced.
Is a hard or soft night guard better for grinding?
For most people who grind, a firmer guard holds up better and can be adjusted more precisely so the teeth meet it evenly. Softer guards can feel more comfortable at first but may wear faster, and some people chew on them. Your dentist recommends the material after seeing your wear pattern and bite.
Should a night guard go on the upper or lower teeth?
Either can work. The choice depends on your bite, where your crowns, veneers or implants are, any missing teeth and which feels less bulky to you. Most people need a guard on one arch only.
How long does a custom night guard last?
It depends on how heavily you grind. Some guards last years; heavy grinders may wear through one much sooner. Replace it if it cracks, wears through, becomes loose or stops fitting after new dental work. Bring it to your check-ups so the fit and wear can be checked.
Is a pharmacy mouthguard good enough for teeth grinding?
Only as a short-term stopgap. Boil-and-bite guards are bulky, do not match your bite and can wear through quickly, and some people grind more on a soft, thick guard. A custom guard is made from a scan or impression of your teeth and adjusted so the jaw is not pushed into an awkward position.
Will a night guard help my jaw pain?
Many people find morning jaw ache eases once the load is spread by a guard. But jaw pain has several causes, and pain with clicking, locking or limited opening needs a TMJ assessment rather than a guard on its own. A splint may be part of TMJ care, chosen after that assessment.
Do I need a night guard after getting veneers or crowns?
If you grind or clench, usually yes. Ceramic can chip or crack under grinding forces, and implant crowns pass heavy loads straight to the implant. Your dentist will check for signs of grinding before the work and plan a guard around the new veneers or crowns once they are fitted.
Can a night guard stop snoring?
No. A night guard for grinding is not a treatment for snoring or sleep apnoea, and it is a different appliance from the devices sometimes used for them. If you snore loudly, stop breathing during sleep or feel very sleepy in the day, see your doctor for a medical assessment.
Does insurance cover a night guard?
It depends on your policy. Please ask us when you book and check with your insurer whether a night guard and any related treatment are included. You receive a written, itemised plan before anything is made.
Keep exploring
Related treatments
ConditionTeeth grinding (bruxism)Causes, signs and every treatment option for grinding.Jaw painTMJ assessmentWhen jaw pain, clicking or locking is the main problem.GuideTMJ treatment optionsConservative, reversible care first, and what follows.GuideVeneers and teeth grindingProtecting veneers if you grind or clench.ConditionWorn teethRepairing teeth that grinding has flattened or chipped.PreventionPreventive dentistryCheck-ups, cleaning and protection for teeth and restorations.GeneralGeneral dentistryEveryday dental care at Creative Arts in Jumeirah.
Visit us
One clinic, in Jumeirah 3 / Umm Suqeim 1
Creative Arts has a single clinic on Jumeira Street (Jumeirah Beach Road). Ask about parking when you book.
- Address614 Jumeira St, Jumeirah 3, Umm Suqeim 1, Dubai
- Opening hoursDaily 10:00–20:00, including Friday and Sunday
- Neighbouring areasJumeirah 1–3, Umm Suqeim 1–3, Al Wasl, Al Safa, Al Manara
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- Address614 Jumeira St, Jumeirah 3, Umm Suqeim 1, Dubai · Our clinic in Jumeirah 3 / Umm Suqeim 1
- Opening hoursClinic open daily, 10:00–20:00
- Phone+971 4 342 4444 · WhatsApp +971 56 677 7537
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