ANSWERS

What is the difference between a night guard and a sleep appliance?

A night guard protects teeth from bruxism by cushioning grinding forces, typically a single-arch hard or dual-laminate splint. A sleep appliance treats obstructive sleep apnea or snoring by repositioning the mandible forward to open the airway, requiring both arches, titration hardware, and an AASM-recognized design...

THE SHORT ANSWER

THE FULL PICTURE

Why it works this way

Two appliances, two diagnoses

A night guard is a bruxism appliance. The dentist diagnoses grinding or clenching, often from wear facets, fractured cusps, or masseter hypertrophy, and prescribes an occlusal splint to absorb the force. Common designs include hard acrylic full-coverage splints, dual-laminate guards, and NTI-style anterior deprogrammers. One arch, no moving parts, no airway involvement.

More on this topic

Can one appliance treat both bruxism and sleep apnea?

Some MAD designs include occlusal coverage that protects against grinding while advancing the mandible, but the device must be prescribed for OSA with a confirmed sleep study. The SomnoDent Avant and Herbst telescopic designs are commonly used for dual-presenting patients. A standalone night guard does not treat apnea, and using one without an airway diagnosis can worsen events in undiagnosed OSA patients. Case planning with the lab before fabrication is recommended when both conditions are suspected.

What bite registration does a sleep appliance require?

A protrusive bite record taken at 60-70% of maximum mandibular protrusion, captured with a George Gauge or equivalent device. Standard centric relation or maximum intercuspation records are wrong for MAD fabrication and will produce an appliance that either fails to advance the airway or overshoots into TMJ strain. Dani Dental ships protrusive bite gauges with the Doctor Kit on request and walks new prescribers through the protocol on the first sleep case.

How long does a sleep appliance last compared to a night guard?

A hard acrylic night guard typically lasts 3-5 years with moderate bruxism, less with severe grinders. A mandibular advancement device lasts 3-5 years as well, but titration hardware (screws, straps, telescopic arms) may need replacement or adjustment within that window. Material degradation is similar across both; the difference is the moving parts on the MAD. Dani Dental documents the advancement position at fabrication so replacement appliances match the titrated setting.

GO DEEPER

Read the full guide on all procedures

This answer is one piece of a larger workflow. The pillar page covers materials, turnaround, and how we build the case to your specification.

Read the guide

REQUEST A DOCTOR KIT

Try the work before you switch.

Request a Doctor Kit and we'll mail RX pads, a shade guide, and pre-paid shipping for your first three cases. No call, no contract.

Request a Doctor Kit Talk to a technician