Mouthguards and Night Guards

Custom Mouthguards and Night Guards in Boulder, CO

A custom guard is a thin shield that keeps your teeth from taking damage you can't undo, whether that damage comes from grinding all night or from an elbow on the soccer field. Dr. Koenig and the team at Table Mesa Dental make guards fitted to your actual bite, so they stay put, feel comfortable, and absorb force that would otherwise chip enamel or wear teeth flat.

Two problems, two appliances. A night guard cushions the steady pressure of clenching while you sleep. A sports mouthguard cushions sudden impact. Grinding at night has a name in dentistry, bruxism, and it works quietly. Most people never feel it happening; they notice a tired jaw in the morning, or we spot the wear pattern at a routine cleaning first. If you're wondering whether a guard belongs in your life, call our South Broadway office at (303) 590-3992 and we'll take a look.

Quick Takeaways

• Know which guard you need before you buy anything. Guards for impact and guards for grinding use different materials at different thicknesses, and one won't do the other's job.
• Custom fit beats boil-and-bite. A guard designed from a digital scan of your teeth stays where it belongs. Store versions loosen as the material relaxes.
• Bring up your symptoms at your next checkup. Morning headaches, a tight jaw, teeth that look shorter, new sensitivity to cold: mention any of it and we can check the wear pattern that same day.
• Ask about coverage. Many dental plans contribute toward a night guard, and we'll check your benefits and give you the number before anything is made.
• Plan on two short appointments. One to scan and plan, one to fit and adjust.

How We Make Your Guard

1. A look at how your teeth are wearing

We check the biting surfaces, the edges of your front teeth, your jaw muscles, and how your bite comes together. Grinding leaves a signature: flattened cusps, small chips, notches near the gumline, sometimes sensitivity that showed up out of nowhere. For athletes, we look at arch shape, tooth position, and whether braces or clear aligners are in the picture.

2. A digital scan, no goopy trays

We capture your teeth with a digital scanner, the same technology behind our same-day crowns. It's a small wand, it takes a few minutes, and there's nothing to gag on. What we end up with is an exact 3D model of your bite to design from.

3. Design and fabrication

From that model we choose the material and thickness that match your situation. Heavy grinders need something firm and durable. Light clenchers often do better with something thinner and softer. Sports guards are built for cushion and airflow, so a kid can still breathe easily and call out to a teammate.

4. Fit, adjust, and show you the ropes

At the second visit we seat the guard, make sure it doesn't rock or pinch, and even out the contact points so your bite lands evenly. Then we walk you through putting it in, taking it out, and cleaning it. If it still feels off after a few nights, bring it back and we'll adjust it.

What a Custom Guard Actually Does for You

• Protects enamel you can't grow back. Once grinding wears through enamel, the repair is fillings or crowns. A guard takes that wear instead of your teeth.
• Eases morning jaw soreness and headaches. Spreading clenching force more evenly gives your jaw and temple muscles a break overnight.
• Keeps your existing dentistry intact. Crowns, veneers, implants, and bonded fillings all cost more to replace than to protect.
• Prevents injuries nobody plans for. A fractured or knocked-out front tooth can mean years of treatment. A fitted guard lowers that risk considerably.
• Comfortable enough to actually wear. The best guard is the one in your mouth, not the one in your nightstand drawer. Less bulk, fewer excuses.
• It lasts. With sensible care, a well-made guard gives you years rather than months.

Who Should Consider One

Night guards

A good fit if you clench or grind, wake with a tight jaw or dull aches at your temples, notice your teeth looking shorter or flatter, or live with someone who hears the grinding at night. Also worth it if you've invested in crowns, veneers, or implants and want to keep them looking the way they did on day one. Younger children still shedding baby teeth usually don't need one.

Sports mouthguards

Basketball, hockey, lacrosse, soccer, wrestling, martial arts, skiing, mountain biking, skateboarding: anything with a ball, a board, or another person moving fast. Kids and teens especially. Front teeth take the hit, and permanent teeth only arrive once. Growing athletes need their guard resized as their mouths change, something we can check at their regular visits.

When something else may serve you better

A guard protects teeth, but it doesn't resolve everything behind jaw pain. If your bite is significantly off or crowding is driving the wear, straightening teeth with Clear Aligners may address the cause rather than the symptom. If you've already lost tooth structure, a guard won't rebuild it, so we may talk about a crown or other restorative work first, then a guard to protect the result. And if snoring or broken sleep is part of the picture, tell us, and bring it up with your physician too.

Timeline and What to Expect

• Visit one, about 30 minutes. Exam, bite check, digital scan, and a conversation about which guard makes sense. We can often fold this into a checkup you're already due for.
• Between visits, usually a couple of weeks. Your guard is made from the scan of your teeth, not a generic tray.
• Visit two, about 20 to 30 minutes. We fit it, fine-tune the bite, and get you comfortable inserting and removing it.
• The first week or two. Extra saliva and being aware of it for a few nights is normal. Most people stop noticing it quickly.
• Ongoing. Bring the guard to your cleanings so we can check wear and fit, especially for kids whose teeth are still shifting.

Getting Ready and Caring for It Afterward

Before your visit

Nothing special is required. Jot down what you've been noticing and when it shows up; the timing helps us read the wear pattern. If you've already tried a drugstore guard, bring it with you. And if dental appointments put you on edge, say so when you book. We can talk through comfort options, including sedation, before you ever sit in the chair.

Daily care

• Rinse it as soon as you take it out, then brush it gently with a soft toothbrush. Skip the toothpaste; it's abrasive and dulls the surface.
• Let it dry fully before it goes into its vented case. A damp closed case grows bacteria.
• Keep it away from hot water, car dashboards, and dishwashers. Heat warps it permanently.
• Keep it out of reach of the dog. Dogs love these things.
• Bring it along to your cleanings and exams so we can check the fit and watch for new wear.

Cost and Payment

What a guard costs depends on the type you need, the material and thickness, and whether it covers a full arch or part of one. We go over the exact number with you at your visit, before anything gets made, so there are no surprises later. Many dental plans cover a night guard, and we're glad to check your benefits so you know what to expect out of pocket. We also offer an in-house membership plan for patients without insurance, and a guard can be folded into the same treatment plan as your regular exams and cleanings.

Why Patients Choose Table Mesa Dental

Dr. Ryan Koenig, DMD, brings more than two decades in dentistry, over 1,000 hours of continuing education, and advanced training in implants, oral surgery, and full-mouth reconstruction. He has spent those years rebuilding what grinding does to teeth, which is exactly why he's particular about what a guard has to withstand and how a bite should come together.

The technology here is genuinely modern. Guards are designed from a precise digital model of your teeth and printed in-house on our 3D printers, so the fit is built to your mouth rather than adapted to it. What patients from south Boulder and across the Front Range tend to mention, though, is the feel of the place: unrushed, warm, and human. Our team leads with empathy and backs it with real expertise.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can't I just buy a mouthguard at the store?

You can, and for one season of light recreational sport it beats nothing. Boil-and-bite guards are thick, hard to talk through, and loosen as the material relaxes. Drugstore night guards are the bigger concern: a poor fit can shift how your teeth meet or fall out mid-sleep, and serious grinders chew through them in weeks. A custom guard costs more up front and lasts far longer.

How do I know if I grind my teeth if I never feel it?

Most people don't feel it. Grinding tends to happen in deeper sleep, so the evidence is indirect: a tight jaw in the morning, dull aching at the temples, teeth that look flatter than they used to, small chips, new sensitivity to cold. We can often spot the wear pattern at a routine exam long before symptoms get your attention.

Does wearing a night guard stop the grinding?

It protects you from the grinding rather than stopping the habit. The guard absorbs the force so your enamel and dental work don't, and spreading that pressure evenly usually calms sore muscles. Grinding often traces back to stress, sleep quality, medications, or bite alignment, so we'll talk through what may be behind yours.

How long does a guard last?

Anywhere from a couple of years to considerably longer, depending on how hard you grind, the material, and how you care for it. Heavy grinders replace theirs more often. Bring yours to your cleanings so we can catch thinning before it becomes a hole.

Can my child wear a night guard?

Sometimes. Children's mouths change quickly, and plenty of kids who grind early on grow out of it, so we'd rather look at your child's teeth and bite than hand out a guard by default. A sports mouthguard is a clear yes for any child in a contact sport, and we'll resize it as they grow.

Can I wear a guard with braces or aligners?

With braces, yes, and it matters more than usual: a properly designed sports guard protects your lips and cheeks from the brackets, and the brackets from impact. With clear aligners, bring them to your appointment and we'll work out the right approach for your stage of treatment.

Let's Protect Those Teeth

Grinding damage builds quietly over years. Sports injuries happen in a second. Either way, a guard is a small step that spares you much bigger dentistry down the road. Whether you've been waking up with a sore jaw or you want your kid covered before the season starts, we're glad to take a look and tell you honestly what we see. Call Table Mesa Dental at (303) 590-3992. You'll find us on South Broadway in south Boulder, open weekdays and easy to reach from anywhere in Boulder County.