Services
Mouth Guards
Our custom night guards cushion your teeth while you sleep, helping protect your smile from nighttime grinding and clenching.
Why choose us
Benefits of Mouth Guards
Protects Against Grinding
Our night guards create a cushion between your teeth to help shield them from nighttime clenching and grinding.
Custom Fit Comfort
We make each night guard to fit your bite so it feels secure and comfortable while you sleep.
Preserves Your Dental Work
Wearing a night guard helps protect crowns, veneers, fillings, and natural enamel from unnecessary wear.
Eases Jaw Tension
A night guard can help relieve the jaw pressure that often comes with clenching during sleep.
Flexible Payment Options
We accept all major PPO insurance plans and welcome self-pay patients.
Grinding and clenching your teeth at night can quietly wear down enamel, strain your jaw, and leave you waking up with a sore face, often without you ever realizing it's happening. At Family Dental Care in West Palm Beach, we offer the night guard, a custom mouth guard you wear while you sleep. It places a protective barrier between your upper and lower teeth so the pressure of nighttime grinding lands on the guard rather than on your natural teeth and dental work.
A night guard is a removable appliance that fits over your teeth and is worn during sleep. Its purpose is simple: when your jaw clenches or your teeth grind together, the guard absorbs that contact. Many people grind or clench without knowing it, because it happens while they're asleep. The first clue often comes from a partner who hears it, or from changes we notice during a routine dental exam.
Night guards can help a wide range of patients. Some are adults whose busy schedules show up as morning jaw tension. Others have invested in crowns, veneers, bridges, or implant restorations and want to protect that work from repeated grinding forces. Because we see patients ages eight and up, we can also talk with families about whether a night guard makes sense for an older child or teen.
Patients often ask how to tell whether they actually need a night guard. These are some of the signs we pay attention to:
- Waking up with a sore jaw, tight facial muscles, or a dull headache
- Teeth that look flattened, chipped, or worn along the biting edges
- New sensitivity in teeth without an obvious cause
- A partner noticing grinding sounds during the night
- Cracks in teeth or damage to existing fillings and crowns
If any of these sound familiar, the best next step is an exam. During your visit, our dentists, Dr. Michael C. Westcott and Dr. Sujay Trivedi, look at the wear patterns on your teeth, check your existing restorations, and ask about your symptoms. Sometimes grinding has already caused problems that need attention first, such as a cracked tooth, a worn filling, or a damaged crown. Because our office handles restorative care, root canal therapy, and treatment for cracked teeth, we can address those concerns and protect your smile going forward. Our practice also has capabilities in orofacial pain, which is helpful when jaw discomfort is part of the picture.
Caring for Your Night Guard and What to Realistically Expect
A night guard works best when it's worn consistently. Grinding tends to happen night after night, so the guard should become part of your bedtime routine, much like brushing and flossing. Most patients need a short adjustment period. The guard may feel unfamiliar at first, and that feeling usually eases as you get used to it. If something feels uncomfortable or the fit seems off, let us know so we can take a look.
Daily care is straightforward. Rinse your guard after you take it out each morning and clean it gently. Let it dry, then store it in its case so it stays clean and protected. Keep it away from heat, which can affect its shape, and out of reach of pets. Bring it to your regular cleanings and exams so we can check its condition and see how your teeth are doing. Over time, a guard can show wear of its own. That wear means it is doing its job, but it also tells us when it may need attention or replacement.
It's important to be clear about what a night guard does. It protects your teeth from the effects of grinding and clenching. It is not a guaranteed cure for the habit itself. We'll talk honestly with you about your symptoms and keep monitoring them at follow-up visits as part of your ongoing preventive care.
Insurance, Payment, and Planning Your Visit
We accept all major PPO insurance plans, and our team can help you understand how your plan applies to an exam and a night guard. Coverage for mouth guards varies from one plan to another, so we recommend checking your benefits with us before treatment. We also welcome self-pay patients and will gladly go over costs with you directly so there are no surprises.
Many patients schedule their night guard evaluation along with a cleaning or exam, which makes it easy to fit into a busy week. If grinding has already led to a broken tooth or sudden pain, we also offer emergency dental appointments so you can be seen promptly.
Protect Your Smile While You Sleep
If you've been waking up sore, noticing worn teeth, or simply wondering whether nighttime grinding is affecting your smile, we'd be glad to help you find out. Our team welcomes patients from West Palm Beach, Palm Beach, and Palm Beach Gardens, and we take the time to explain your options clearly. Call Family Dental Care to schedule your visit. We'll check your teeth, answer your questions, and help you decide whether a custom night guard is the right way to protect your smile.
The process
What to expect
- 1
Exam and Consultation
Dr. Westcott or Dr. Trivedi examines your teeth and jaw for signs of grinding and talks through whether a night guard is right for you.
- 2
Impressions and Fitting
We take impressions of your teeth, then fit your finished night guard and adjust it for a comfortable bite.
- 3
Ongoing Care
We check your night guard at your regular exams and cleanings, and we show you how to keep it clean between visits.