If you wake up with jaw soreness, headaches, or notice your teeth feeling sensitive or worn down, nighttime teeth grinding or clenching (bruxism) may be the cause. While many people assume this only affects natural teeth, bruxism can be especially damaging to cosmetic dental work such as veneers, bonding, crowns, and implants. A custom night guard is one of the most effective ways to protect both your natural teeth and your dental investment.

What Is a Custom Night Guard?

A custom night guard is a professionally made oral appliance designed to be worn while you sleep. Unlike over-the-counter options, a custom night guard is created using precise impressions of your teeth, ensuring a comfortable fit and proper bite alignment. This tailored fit allows the guard to absorb and redistribute the forces created by grinding or clenching, reducing stress on your teeth, restorations, and jaw joints.

Why Teeth Grinding Is So Harmful

Bruxism can place excessive pressure on your teeth - often far more force than normal chewing. Over time, this can lead to:

• Flattened, chipped, or cracked teeth

• Tooth sensitivity and enamel wear

• Jaw pain or TMJ discomfort

• Headaches or facial soreness

• Damage to dental restorations

For patients with cosmetic or restorative dental work, these risks are even higher.

Protecting Cosmetic Dental Work

If you’ve invested in cosmetic dentistry, protecting that work is essential. Veneers, bonding, crowns, and implants are durable - but they are not indestructible.

Without protection, nighttime grinding can cause:

• Veneers to chip, crack, or debond

• Bonding to wear down or fracture

• Crowns to loosen or crack

• Implants to experience excessive force that affects surrounding bone

A custom night guard acts as a protective barrier, preventing your upper and lower teeth from grinding directly against each other and shielding your dental work from unnecessary stress.

Preventing General Tooth Wear and Damage

Even if you don’t have cosmetic restorations, bruxism can gradually wear down natural enamel. Once enamel is lost, it cannot be replaced, increasing your risk of cavities, sensitivity, and future restorative needs.

A custom night guard helps:

• Preserve healthy tooth structure

• Reduce the risk of cracks and fractures

• Minimize jaw joint strain

• Improve overall comfort while sleeping

By addressing grinding early, you can often avoid more extensive dental treatments down the road.

Custom vs. Over-the-Counter Night Guards

Store-bought night guards may seem convenient, but they often fall short when it comes to protection and comfort. Many are bulky, poorly fitted, and may even worsen jaw alignment or discomfort.

A custom night guard from Parikh Prosthodontics is designed specifically for your bite, ensuring:

• Optimal comfort

• Proper jaw positioning

• Long-term durability

• Maximum protection for both teeth and restorations

Take the Next Step in Protecting Your Smile

Whether you’re protecting natural teeth, cosmetic dental work, or both, a custom night guard is a simple yet powerful solution. By reducing the damaging effects of grinding and clenching, it helps preserve your smile, your comfort, and your dental investment for the long term.

If you suspect nighttime grinding or want to protect your veneers, bonding, or other dental work, Parikh Prosthodontics can help. Contact our office in Los Angeles, California, by calling (213) 281-9520 to schedule a consultation and learn if a custom night guard is right for you.