ANSWERS

Why is a custom mouth guard better than store-bought?

A custom mouth guard is laser-scanned and lab-fabricated to the exact arch, so it retains without clenching, covers the full occlusal table, and lasts 3 to 5 years. Boil-and-bite guards from drugstores average 6 to 12 months, distort under heat, and a 2017 General Dentistry study found custom guards reduced concussi...

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Why it works this way

The fit difference is measurable, not marketing

A store-bought boil-and-bite guard is one shape softened in hot water and pressed against the teeth by the user. A custom guard starts from an intraoral scan or PVS impression, gets designed in CAD against the patient's actual occlusion, and is pressed or 3D-printed from medical-grade EVA or thermoplastic. The 2017 General Dentistry study by Winters cited a 1.6 to 1.9 times lower concussion incidence in athletes wearing custom-fitted guards compared to stock or boil-and-bite. That gap is fit-driven, not material-driven.

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How long does a custom night guard take to fabricate?

At Dani Dental, a custom hard or dual-laminate night guard ships 5 to 7 business days from scan or impression receipt. Soft EVA athletic guards run 4 to 6 business days. The case includes the fabricating technician's direct line, so if the dentist has a fit or occlusal contact question at delivery, the answer comes back same-day rather than queued through a generic customer service line.

What material should I prescribe for a bruxism night guard?

Hard acrylic is the standard for moderate to heavy bruxers because it resists perforation and allows occlusal equilibration adjustments chairside. Dual-laminate (soft inner, hard outer) suits patients who report comfort issues with full-hard guards. Soft EVA is reserved for mild bruxism or short-term use. The prescription drives the build at Dani Dental; the technician confirms material choice against the case notes before fabrication starts.

Can a custom mouth guard be made from a digital scan?

Yes. Dani Dental accepts STL files from iTero, Trios, Medit, Primescan, and most open-architecture intraoral scanners. The digital workflow eliminates impression distortion and shortens turnaround by 1 to 2 business days versus PVS shipping. CAD design is reviewed against the bite registration before the guard is milled or printed, and the named technician on the case is reachable directly throughout fabrication.

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

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