Custom Night Guards for Teeth Grinding: Protect the Smile, Screen the Airway
I'm Dr. Nina Izhaky. A custom night guard is a fitted mouthpiece worn at night that absorbs the extra force of grinding (bruxism) so your teeth - and any veneers, crowns, or porcelain - don't have to take it. Here's the part most offices skip: when we see signs of grinding, we also screen your airway. Sometimes grinding is the body's way of keeping the airway open at night, and we want to know before we fit anything.
Why patients wear our night guards
Protection first - for your teeth, your dental work, and your sleep.
Built for grinding forces.
Heavy grinding puts extra force on teeth and porcelain. A custom guard fitted to your bite absorbs that force at night instead of your enamel - or your veneers and crowns - absorbing it.
Protects your cosmetic investment.
If you've invested in veneers or crowns, a nighttime guard protects that investment. We check your bite before recommending anything, because the right guard starts with the right diagnosis of your bite.
Stops wear in its tracks.
Grinding wears teeth down over time - flattening edges and shortening teeth. A fitted guard holds the line so the wear stops where we found it.
Custom-fitted, comfortable.
Off-the-shelf guards are bulky and often end up in a drawer. A custom guard is made to your bite, so it stays in, feels right, and you'll actually wear it every night.
Your night guard visit
Four steps from first exam to a guard you'll actually wear.
Bite and wear evaluation.
We examine your bite and look for the signs of grinding: worn edges, flattened teeth, stress on your porcelain. That tells us how much protection you need and what your guard should be made of.
Airway screen.
We ask about your sleep - snoring, waking tired, morning headaches. If grinding looks like it may be tied to a restricted airway, we'll recommend a proper sleep evaluation before or alongside your guard. Diagnosis first, always.
Custom fitting.
Your guard is made to your exact bite - not boiled-and-bent from a kit. We fit it in the office and adjust until it feels like it belongs in your mouth.
Follow-up checks.
We evaluate the fit of your guard at your visits, because your bite and your grinding can change. Bring it with you - it's part of your routine now.
A night guard protects your teeth. An airway device protects your breathing.
These are two different tools, and we don't confuse them. A night guard is a protective guard - it absorbs grinding forces so your teeth and dental work don't take the damage. An oral appliance for sleep apnea is a treatment device - it gently shifts the lower jaw forward to keep the airway open during sleep. Our airway work starts the same way every time: a proper diagnosis to find out why you snore, whether you have sleep apnea, and what's causing it. Many causes of snoring and sleep apnea exist, but the effects are the same - decreased life expectancy and lower quality of life - which is why we take the screen seriously.
Hablamos español
We warmly welcome Spanish-speaking patients. Nuestro equipo le explica sus opciones de protectores nocturnos y evaluación de vías aéreas en su idioma - llámenos al (212) 561-5303. No facturamos directamente al seguro; le ayudamos con el financiamiento para que el plan se ajuste a su vida.
The Guard Is the Easy Part - the Screen Is the Important Part
Most people who grind their teeth don't know they do it. They find out when a dentist points at flattened edges, or when their partner complains about the sound at night. When I see that wear in my chair, I ask about sleep - because grinding is sometimes the body's way of keeping a restricted airway open while you sleep. That doesn't mean every grinder has sleep apnea. It means the question is worth asking.
Here's my rule: we never fit a guard and skip the screen. Snoring has many causes, and sleep apnea has serious effects - decreased life expectancy and lower quality of life. The only honest way to know what's going on is a proper diagnosis: a sleep study that tells us why you snore and whether apnea is present. Your first visit is about getting answers and a plan, not about selling you a piece of plastic.
And when a guard is what you need, we fit it to your exact bite - because the guard is only as good as its fit. A guard that doesn't fit ends up in the nightstand drawer, and your teeth keep taking the hit. We check your bite, protect your investment, and see you at your visits to keep it working. Simple, honest, done right.
Night guard questions, answered
01What is a custom night guard for teeth grinding?
A custom night guard is a fitted mouthpiece you wear at night that absorbs the extra force of grinding (bruxism), so your teeth - and any veneers, crowns, or porcelain - don't have to. It's made to your exact bite, which is what makes it comfortable enough to actually wear.
02How do I know if I grind my teeth at night?
Most people don't know they do it. We see the signs at your exam: worn or flattened edges, shortened teeth, stress on porcelain or fillings. If you're waking with a sore jaw or your partner hears grinding, tell us at your visit - we'll evaluate your bite.
03Why do you screen my airway if I just need a guard?
Because grinding is sometimes the body's way of keeping a restricted airway open during sleep. That's not always the case - but the question is worth asking. If we see red flags like snoring, waking tired, or morning headaches, we recommend a proper sleep evaluation before or alongside your guard. Diagnosis first.
04What's the difference between a night guard and a sleep apnea device?
A night guard is protective: it absorbs grinding forces so your teeth and dental work don't take the damage. An oral appliance for sleep apnea is a treatment device: it gently shifts the lower jaw forward to keep the airway open during sleep. They're different tools for different problems, and we don't confuse them.
05Will a night guard stop my snoring?
No - that's not what it's for. A night guard protects your teeth from grinding. Snoring needs a proper diagnosis: a sleep study that tells us why you snore and whether sleep apnea is present. If you snore, book the evaluation - we'll get you answers and a plan.
06I have veneers or crowns. Can I still wear a night guard?
Yes - and you should. Heavy grinding puts extra force on porcelain, so we check your bite and fit a nighttime guard to protect your investment. If grinding has already worn your teeth noticeably, veneers can even restore the lost length - and the guard keeps them safe.
07How long does a custom night guard last?
That depends on how heavily you grind and how well the guard fits over time. We evaluate the fit at your visits, so bring it with you - if it stops fitting right, we'll tell you before it becomes a problem.
08How do I care for my night guard?
Your care instructions come with your guard. The one rule that matters: bring it to your visits so we can evaluate the fit. A guard that stops fitting is a guard you stop wearing.
09How much does a custom night guard cost?
Exact cost is confirmed at your evaluation, because it depends on your bite and the material your case calls for. We don't bill insurance directly - we'll walk you through financing so the plan fits your life.
Night guards in the heart of Tribeca
Find us at 54 Warren Street, New York, NY 10007 - in the heart of Tribeca, serving patients across Tribeca, SoHo, Battery Park City, the Financial District, and Downtown Manhattan.
Protect your teeth - and check your sleep.
One evaluation: your bite, your grinding, and your airway. Call (212) 561-5303 or book online - 54 Warren St, Tribeca.
