Night Guards & Bite Splints in Bethlehem, PA
A guard made for you, so mornings feel easier.
Made for your mouth, not an average one
Always About Smiles makes night guards and bite splints at our Bethlehem, PA dental office. Every guard is laboratory-made in hard acrylic from impressions of your own teeth, never soft plastic, and I fit it and adjust it myself. Call (610) 868-9928 to be measured for one.
The material we choose, and the reason
Every guard I prescribe is made in hard acrylic by a dental laboratory, from impressions of your own teeth. Hard acrylic holds its shape under a night of clenching and lets the teeth slide rather than grip, which is the point of wearing one. Soft plastic gives under pressure, and we don't use it for night guards. Patients come in from Easton for a guard made that way.
Working while you sleep
A guard stops the upper and lower teeth locking together and grinding against one another while you sleep, which is when a great deal of the wear happens. Wearing mouthguards at night can minimize the damaging pressure caused by grinding or clenching, reducing the wear and tear on your teeth and chewing muscles. It protects enamel, fillings, crowns and the jaw joint at the same time.
Made, fitted and adjusted to you
Well-made night-guards are designed to feel as natural and non-intrusive as possible when you're asleep. They may be placed on the top or lower teeth, depending on what you're more comfortable with — either way, they shouldn't interfere with your bite. Once the dental impression has been taken, the laboratory makes your guard and I fit it, usually within about two weeks.
Why hard acrylic rather than a soft guard?
Because hard acrylic keeps working. A soft guard compresses under a clenching jaw and some people chew into it, which can leave the muscles working harder rather than less. A hard acrylic guard made from impressions of your own teeth holds its shape and its fit, and I can adjust it at the chair when your bite needs it.
Is a store-bought guard the same thing?
No, and the difference is fit. More often than not, store-bought products fit poorly, making it impossible to talk or socialize while wearing them. A guard that does not sit correctly is a guard that comes out in the night. Yours is made from impressions of your own teeth and adjusted on you before you take it home.
How much does a night guard cost in Bethlehem, PA?
A night guard is a single quoted fee that covers the impressions, the laboratory work and the fitting appointment, and you have it before anything is made. We're fee-for-service, we file your claim for you, we're good at it, and we'll push to get you reimbursed. Financing is available, and paying by cash in advance carries a 5% discount.
How long does a night guard last?
Several years for most people, and less for a heavy grinder — the guard is deliberately the thing that takes the wear instead of your teeth. I check it at your cleaning visits and will tell you when it is time for a new one. Night guards are not covered by the Peace of Mind Limited Dental Warranty.
Top teeth or bottom teeth?
Whichever suits you, and it is genuinely your choice to make. They may be placed on the top or lower teeth, depending on what you're more comfortable with. I'll tell you if your bite or the pattern of your wear makes one clearly better, and otherwise you pick the one you think you will actually wear.
What is a bite splint, and is it different?
A splint does the same protective job and is also used to settle a jaw joint and test a bite before any permanent work is done. Where I'm planning crowns or balancing a bite, a splint tells me how the jaw wants to sit. I'll explain which of the two I'm prescribing and why.
Night Guards and Bite Splints at Always About Smiles
- Laboratory made in hard acrylic from impressions of your own teeth
- Adjusted until it perfectly fits the mouth it was made for and stays put overnight
- Available for top or bottom, whichever you prefer
- Protects other work, like crowns and veneers
Frequently Asked Questions
How long until my guard is ready?
Usually about two weeks from the appointment where impressions are taken. It goes to a dental laboratory to be made, then you come back so I can fit it, check it against your bite and adjust it while you are in the chair.Will I be able to sleep with it in?
Most people are used to it within a week or two, and a well-fitting guard is easier to get used to than people expect. If yours feels bulky or catches when you close, that is worth a phone call rather than a drawer — an adjustment usually fixes it.How do I keep it clean?
Brush it with a soft brush and cool water each morning, keep it soaking in water during the day, and bring it to your cleaning appointments so it can be checked and cleaned properly. Hot water warps acrylic, so nothing hot and nothing in the dishwasher.Can I wear one if I have crowns or veneers?
Yes, and it is one of the best reasons to. Grinding is excluded from the Peace of Mind Limited Dental Warranty, so a guard protects porcelain work you have already paid for. I often recommend one alongside crowns or veneers for exactly that reason.Do you make sports guards too?
Yes, and they are a different thing made a different way — laminated for impact rather than shaped for grinding, and not interchangeable with a night guard. Ask me or the front desk about a sports guard and it is quoted and made separately.
