What is the best night guard for bruxism?

Guard selection depends on bruxism severity and the patient's tolerance for hard appliances. Heavy nocturnal bruxers typically receive a full-coverage maxillary hard acrylic guard, 3-4 mm thick, with a flat occlusal plane and canine guidance built in. That design limits posterior loading and discourages sustained clenching patterns. Patients with moderate grinding or sensitivity to hard materials are good candidates for dual-laminate appliances, which layer a 1-2 mm soft liner inside a rigid outer shell.

For referring dentists, the fabrication method matters as much as material choice. A guard made from an intraoral scan processed through a verified CAD/CAM workflow produces a more accurate fit than one poured from a conventional alginate impression. Tighter fit means better retention overnight and less soft-tissue irritation. At Dani Dental, sleep appliances and occlusal guards are fabricated on a standard 5-business-day turnaround from digital or physical impression receipt.

Longevity is another practical consideration. A well-made hard acrylic guard, with proper patient compliance and periodic equilibration at recall, typically lasts 3-5 years. Over-the-counter thermoplastic guards average 6-12 months and rarely provide the occlusal coverage needed for full-arch bruxers. For DSO practices standardizing on a single lab partner, consistent guard quality across locations eliminates the chair-time variability that comes with mixed-vendor appliance work.