Over-the-counter stock night guards can easily be purchased from a local pharmacy/drug store at a lower price than a custom night guard. These OTC solutions are mass-produced and usually come in three standard sizes. With some models, the guard can be adapted to one’s teeth every night using a ‘boil and bite’ method. Most who opt for this solution are left with a less-than-ideal fit. A custom night guard minimizes the risk of an improper fit as it will be molded based on a real impression of a patient's teeth.

For severe bruxers, we always recommend that you consult with your dentist on the correct treatment plan and night guard. For everyone else (or for those who are seeking a replacement for their guard) DentaRight can help you save time and money by buying directly from us. The night guard you would receive from your dentist is identical to DentaRight nightguard. In fact, we have been supplying dentists and their patients with custom night guards for over 20 years.

Most prefer an upper guard as they tend to be less obtrusive. A single night guard is generally enough to protect your teeth against grinding, so either an upper or a lower will suffice unless otherwise instructed by your dentist.

When deciding between an upper or lower, please consider the following:

1. Do you have a gag reflex? - Many customers with a severe gag reflex report that opting for a lower guard is more comfortable and less likely to induce their gag reflex.

2. Are you currently wearing braces and/or have a permanently cemented retainer? - It's best to choose the arch that you do not have braces or a permanently cemented retainer on. The impression putty cannot be applied onto teeth with braces and a guard may catch on to your cemented retainer.

3. Do you have loose teeth, sores, or dental health issues on a particular arch? - If so, it is recommended to take the impression/wear a night guard on the opposite arch.

If deciding between the single layer options, keep in mind a soft guard is more comfortable while the hard guard is more durable. That said, more severe grinders should opt for a hard guard or double layer guard.

Our double layer guard is extremely popular due to its hybrid nature - many customers who fall under the mild to moderate level of bruxism enjoy the combination of a soft liner for comfort and a hard exterior for durability.

If you have porcelain veneers, DentaRight highly recommends that you consult with your family dentist first due to the high cost of veneers and their delicate nature. Ask your dentist if it's safe to take your dental impression over the veneers. If so, we recommend either a hybrid guard or a soft guard as both have soft material components that help provide padding to protect the veneers.

Within 2-5 days of your order, you will receive an impression kit (encased in tamper-evident packaging) that contains the following:

1. Impression trays in three sizes (Large/Medium/Small): Three tray sizes are provided for you to determine the best fitting tray. For tips on how to determine the best tray for you, check out our tips here. In an effort to minimize plastic waste, we send the most commonly used sizes first. If you need a pediatric tray, please contact us directly and we'll send one to you immediately.

2. Impression putty: Each set of putty is designed and measured for a single impression. If the putty is divided and used for two impressions, neither impression will have enough putty for an accurate model. For your convenience, your kit will also contain a back up set of putty.

3. Prepaid mailer and envelope to return your completed impression.

4. Detailed instructions are included. You can always email us for a copy if you've misplaced it. If you have any issues or questions during the process, our support team is always ready and happy to help.

Once your impression is completed, please send us a photo of your completed impression for evaluation before returning it. In the event that there's a quality concern with your impression, we will let you know how to get an extra set of putty.

Picking the right impression tray to use is an important step in taking your own impression. Each kit comes with an adult large, adult medium and an adult small tray for you to try out. Prior to mixing the putty, insert both trays into your mouth to see which of the two fit best. When evaluating the fit, keep these two requirements in mind:

1. The tray needs to be long enough so that it covers all of your molars. If the tray does not cover your molars, we won't have a full impression of your teeth and can only extend the guard as far back as impressed. 

2. Your teeth should not touch any of the side walls of the impression tray. There should be space between your teeth and the impression tray on both sides of your teeth. If you find yourself hitting any of the side walls with your teeth, it's best to use a larger tray. 

I'm afraid we cannot replicate a guard using an existing guard. All of our custom guards require a dental impression or model.

Daily cleaning and caring for your guard will help extend its life and ability to protect your teeth.

1. Always rinse immediately after wearing with warm water as soon as you remove it from your mouth to remove debris and loosen any plaque that builds up during wear.

2. Lightly brush your night guard daily with a normal toothbrush. Toothpaste is not required or recommended, as it may scratch your night guard and cause it to wear out more quickly.

3. Always let your night guard dry completely. Do not store a wet night guard in a closed container.

4. Deep clean your night guard at least once a week. Your custom night guard will also come with a supply of cleaning tablets. Simply place the tab inside a bowl/glass of warm water and submerge your night guard completely in the solution for 3-5 minutes. Rinse and wash thoroughly afterwards, and allow the night guard to dry. Additional tablets can be purchased from The ConfiDental Laboratory or from your local pharmacy/drug store. Home cleaning remedies such has hydrogen peroxide and white vinegar also work well to clean your guard.

Just as your night guard needs to be cleaned regularly, your case needs be kept clean as saliva and germs can collect inside your case. Just wash your case routinely with warm water and soap and this will go a long way in helping you maintain your night guard.

Do not:

1. Use any alcohol-base solutions on your guard

2. Boil your night guard; the high temperature will distort and/or damage your guard

3. Store a wet guard in a closed container