General Dentistry

Night & Mouth Guards

Your confident smile is our goal. To get it you’ll need healthy teeth and healthy gums, and you’ll need a dentist with cosmetic dentistry expertise – to get the shape, position, and color of your teeth just right for you. Whether you need porcelain veneers or a full-mouth restoration, Dr. Forbes and the team at Capital Dental Design in Richmond can help you every step of the way.

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In Richmond, VA

Night Guard / Mouth Guard

Night guards and mouth guards are dental appliances that can be used to treat a variety of oral health needs but are most commonly used to alleviate or correct Bruxism or TMJ/TMD. Mouth guards can also be used to address these issues but may also be recommended for individuals who engage in sports or other types of high impact physical activity. The primary difference between the two types of guards is that mouth guards do not require a prescription and are more cost-affordable, whereas night guards are generally customized to the unique structure of your mouth and designed in a laboratory.

To learn more about night guards and mouth guards, please refer to the following, or schedule an appointment today. We proudly serve patients throughout Richmond and the surrounding area, including neighborhoods like Southampton, Stratford Hills, Westover Hills, Bon Air, Libbie and Grove, Church Hill, The Fan, Westham, Museum District, and Mooreland Farms.

At Capital Dental Design, we are committed to providing you with effective, considerate care and helping you get the bright, beautiful smile you have always wanted!

Your smile is a reflection of your personality.

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dental design
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804.320.8894

Call us. You will be glad you did.

What is Bruxism TMJ/TMD?

One of the most common reasons night guards or mouth guards are recommended is as a preliminary treatment option for patients with bruxism or TMJ/TMD. Bruxism and TMJ/TMD are oral health ailments that can cause you to clench and/or grind your teeth, most commonly while sleeping (though this can occur while awake as well). Although you will need a professional like Dr. Forbes to diagnose whether you have bruxism or TMJ/TMD, common symptoms include waking up with pain in your jaw, headaches, disrupted sleep, hearing loss, and wear on your jawbone and teeth. If you have been experiencing these symptoms, contact our office so Dr. Forbes can diagnose the underlying issue, and if necessary, customize a night guard or mouth guard for you.

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Getting Fitted for Nightguards / Mouthguards

Although you can purchase night guards and mouth guards online, at a pharmacy, and/or at a sporting goods store, these guards come in a one-size-fits-all style and do not provide the necessary customized support you need to protect your teeth. For a customized solution designed to address your specific mouth, Dr. Forbes will take an impression of your mouth to ensure the fit of your guard is exact. Next, the guard is fabricated at our partner laboratory, and when it is complete, you will return to our office and Dr. Forbes will check to make sure that the guard is a perfect fit (or make adjustments if necessary). Once this is done, you can begin wearing your guard.

Night Guard & Mouth Guard Cleaning and Hygiene

Wash your hands before touching your guard, then rinse and brush the guard using toothpaste and a soft bristle toothbrush. Next, set the guard down on a clean surface to dry. Once dried, store the guard it in its case. Be sure to store the guard somewhere other than your bathroom, where there is too much humidity that can cause the guard to warp. In addition to following these cleaning steps daily, you can also preserve the functionality of your guard by avoiding sugary beverages and foods and not smoking while wearing your guard. If you closely follow these maintenance steps, your guard can last up to ten years.

In addition to proper maintenance of your night guards and/or mouth guards, the most important step you can take to correct issues like bruxism and/or TMJ/TMD, preserve your oral health, and ensure that your guards are functioning properly is to schedule a regular examination with us at least twice a year, or with greater regularity if you are at an increased risk of developing oral health issues. These visits ensure that Dr. Forbes can evaluate your oral health and identify issues before they develop into something worse. They also allow us to perform one of our three types of dental exams: a limited exam (for specific concerns), comprehensive exam (thorough examination of your overall oral health followed by treatment recommendations), or our signature exam (which includes the comprehensive exam as well as a full head and neck exam and ideas for a Digital Smile Design).

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We Create Confident Smiles

At Capital Dental Design, we help you smile with confidence.

Cost of Night guard / Mouth guard

The cost of your night guard or mouth guard will be determined by the type of guard you get, and whether the procedure is covered (and if so, how much) by your dental insurance plan. One important thing to consider with regards to the cost of a custom night guard or mouth guard compared to a generic one that can be bought online is that although a custom guard is more expensive, it can last up to ten years, unlike generic guards which need to be replaced with greater frequency. Prior to scheduling any procedure, we will discuss the anticipated costs, verify your benefits (if applicable) to determine out-of-pocket costs, and answer any questions you may have about billing.

If you are not covered under a dental insurance plan, or if you are simply interested in saving money, consider joining the Capital Dental Design Membership Plan. Although we make every effort to keep our services affordable for all patients, joining our membership plan allows us to save you even more money by covering the cost of preventive care such as cleanings, exams, and routine x-rays. We also offer discounts of 10-15% on other dental services offered at our clinic. To learn more about our membership plan, payment options, or anticipated costs, contact our office today!

Call Today to Schedule a Consultation

At Capital Dental Design in Richmond, one of the main things our patients love about us is that we are a patient-centered practice. We treat our patients like family, which means we take the time to understand who you are, your medical and oral health history, and your oral health goals, because doing so allows us to do everything we can to help you and your family reach those goals.

If you have not joined us as a patient yet and/or if you would like to schedule an appointment to get fitted for a night guard or mouth guard, contact us today online or call us directly at (804) 320-8894.

We are here to brighten your smile and provide you with the personalized care you deserve!