Do you wake up to face and neck pain, aching teeth, and stiff jaw joints? If so, you likely have something in common with roughly 20% of the U.S. adult population: bruxism. This unconscious clenching and grinding of the teeth can cause various health problems, including cracked molars, TMJ disorders, and chronic headaches.
Night guards (also called mouth guards) aren’t a bruxism cure, but they can help to manage the symptoms, and mail-order options make protecting your teeth and jaw joints more affordable. Chomper Labs sells dental-office quality night guards at a fraction of the price. But do they offer all the features you need? We’ll cover all the details you need to decide.
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How Do Night Guards Work?
Clenching and grinding your teeth can cause or worsen many health problems — and not just those related to the teeth and jaws. Cracked molars and TMJ disorders may be the most common and severe side effects, but bruxism can also cause headaches, face and neck pain, and even earaches. And when you are dealing with all this at night, it reduces the quality of your sleep.
Those likely all sound like symptoms you want to eliminate or avoid. But how do night guards make it happen?
They prevent the teeth from fully coming together. Night guards are between 1–3 millimeters thick, so they keep the jaw slightly “open.” The plastic stops the teeth from grinding or clenching against each other — though you can and likely will still grind and clench against the guard — and the space it creates reduces the stress on the jaw joints. Essentially, night guards manage but do not cure bruxism.
Of course, not all night guards work for all people. You have to get the right fit for your needs. Below are the four primary types of night guards:
- Soft Night Guard: This type is flexible and has a slightly gummy texture. Most people find them more comfortable than harder guard, but there are two aspects that could be downsides for you: they are typically three millimeters thick and only work for mild bruxism.
- Single-Layer Hard Night Guard: Basically, these night guards look and even function like clear retainers. They use a single layer of highly rigid material that is formed to your teeth. They are thinner than most guards, usually just one millimeter thick, and you can wear them during the day. However, they only work for moderate bruxism.
- Dual Laminate Night Guard: Also called a hybrid night guard, it combines a hard outer layer of plastic with a soft inner layer. Together, those layers are three millimeters thick but because of its design, this guard can withstand moderate-to-severe bruxism. Many people find it more comfortable than regular soft or hard guards, since it delivers the best of both worlds.
- Hard Flexible Night Guard: This type of guard uses a single layer of hard yet slightly flexible plastic that’s usually three millimeters thick. The density and strength makes it hard to bite through, but the flexibility lessens stress on the jaw. It is best for those with severe bruxism.
No matter which type of night guard you choose, expect to replace it from time to time. You might find yours lasts as much as five years or as little as 3–6 months. Always inspect your night guard for signs of wear before using it.
Is Chomper Labs a Good Option: Our Perspective
Chomper Labs is our number-one choice for mail-order night guards. They are a professional dental lab — meaning they partner with dentists in addition to selling directly to consumers. However, they also offer great guarantees and full customization. But just like every other company, Chomper Labs isn’t perfect. Here are their biggest pros and cons.
Chomper Labs Advantages
- Professional Dental Lab: Chomper Labs is a complete professional dental lab. They use the same processes and materials, whether they are manufacturing guards for dentists or consumers.
- Solid Guarantees and Warranties: Chomper Labs’ backs their night guards with two guarantees and a warranty — more than most of their competitors. This means you go into your purchase fully protected.
- Complete Customization: Chomper Labs provides customization options on their ordering page, but they’re pretty limited. However, since they are a full-service dental lab, you can reach out with additional requests and they’ll make it happen.
- Affordable Revisions: Most companies will charge you the full cost for new night guards if you end up finding your night guard choices weren’t the right ones. Chomper Labs, on the other hand, only charges $40 for revision guards.
Chomper Labs Disadvantages
- Doesn’t Directly Accept Insurance: Chomper Labs makes it easy to file for reimbursement by providing the necessary paperwork, but it would be better if they worked with insurance companies directly.
- Complaints About Fit: Online reviews for Chomper Labs are mostly positive, but a handful of customers have complained about the fit of their guards. The company works to make things right, but it is still notable.
Who Is a Good Match for Chomper Labs?
If you are looking for professional quality but competitive prices and have a need for high-level customization, Chomper Labs fits the bill. Just keep in mind that they won’t work directly with your insurance company.
Quality
The one quality everyone wants in their night guards is…well, quality! You want to feel assured you’ll receive a well-made product that will help manage your bruxism, and Chomper Labs delivers excellent products.
Chomper Labs is a full-service dental lab that serves dentists across the country.
Located in California, Chomper Labs has been partnering with dental practices to make their night guards and retainers for over 20 years. Over this time, they have made thousands of professional-quality guards, and now, they offer them directly to consumers. This means you get dental-office quality without dental-office prices.
They make all their night guards from FDA-approved materials.
Chomper Labs takes a lot of pride in the materials they use. They state that over the decades, they’ve tested all possible materials and carefully curated the ones they consider the absolute best — and they update these as technology progresses.
They currently source all their materials from Germany, where many top dental plastics manufacturers are located. The exact material changes based on the night guard model — either copolyester, TPU/EVA, or a combination of both. Both types of plastic are FDA-approved, ISO certified, CE certified, phthalate-free, BPA-free, latex-free, and allergen-free.
If you need extra customization, Chomper Labs makes it happen.
You have some customization options right on the order page. However, you might want to make other tweaks, such as changing the cut or selecting a specialized thickness, that aren’t part of the ordering process. If you are confident you need something different from what Chomper Labs lists, just contact them to discuss your customized night guard.
Their night guards can last up to five years.
You need to replace all night guards eventually, whether due to damage, discoloration, or both. Many companies design theirs to last about 3–6 months, but Chomper Labs’ guards last up to five years.
Will yours make it that long? It depends on how you experience bruxism, if you wear your guard correctly, and which guard you purchase. In general, soft and thin guards (like Chomper Labs’ Soft and Retainer models) tend to wear out sooner. Harder and thicker options (The Hard and The Hybrid) last the longest.
Affordability
One of the most appealing aspects of mail-order night guards is their price. Hundreds less than in-office options, they are the budget-friendly way to go. However, some companies offer a better value than others, and even though they don’t have the lowest prices out there, Chomper Labs’ mail-order guards are still much more affordable than in-office alternatives.
Chomper Labs does not have subscriptions; you pay for and receive one night guard at a time.
Their night guards prices range from $149–$169, which is slightly cheaper than Pro Teeth Guard — another professional service that also sells directly to consumers. But compare it to dental office prices — which usually cost $300–$1,000 — and the savings are pretty incredible. In fact, it’s these prices that inspired Chomper Lab’s founder to open up their direct-to-consumer division.
Other mail-order services do undercut its prices, but not any that double as professional labs. For example, Sporting Smiles costs $90–$105 per guard, and subscription-based services go even lower. However, when looking at subscription options, do the math on the cost per year. For example, ClearClub charges just $45–$65 per guard — but only if you replace your guards every three months. This means you’ll be paying $180–$260 a year. Since Chomper Labs guards can last up to five years, you could save money even if the price per guard is technically higher.
Keep in mind that future orders get a $20 discount.
These aren’t massive savings, but every little bit helps. To redeem this discount, on your next order use the code “EXTRA20” at checkout. This gives you room in your budget to order some of their cleaning tablets or just pocket the savings.
If you have an FSA or HSA, you can apply the funds to your purchase.
All Chomper Labs night guards are FSA and HSA eligible since they qualify as medical products. You can choose to use your account’s card at checkout or pay and then apply for reimbursement.
Unfortunately, Chomper Labs does not accept insurance payments directly. However, they will give you the documents you need to apply for reimbursement. You can get an itemized invoice by going to your account dashboard. Whether your policy will reimburse you depends on the terms; not all plans cover night guards.
Revision night guards are highly affordable.
Sometimes, you order one type of night guard and then realize you’d be better off with another, or you want to change something like the thickness or cut. If this happens, send back the current night guard within 30 days and you’ll pay just $40 for a new one. Most other companies will charge the full price.
Convenience
Life can get pretty busy. With night guards, you want to manage your bruxism without complicating your schedule. Although it will require some additional steps in your daily routine, overall, using a Chomper Labs night guard is simple.
The most difficult part of using Chomper Labs is taking impressions.
But don’t panic; this is the same for every mail-order night guard company. Since there are no in-office visits, you have to make your own dental impressions. This isn’t the easiest thing to do, but if you watch a few tutorials, including the one from Chomper Labs, you’ll find there aren’t too many hiccups.
Their helpful quiz makes it easy to determine your ideal model.
It takes most people less than one minute to complete. You just answer a few questions about your bruxism, detailing its severity and duration, as well as how you feel about any guards you’ve worn in the past. At the end, give them your email and they’ll suggest the model or models that could work for you.
Chomper Labs night guards arrive about 2.5 weeks after you ship off your impressions.
If your impressions are great with the first kit, you will likely get your guard in less than three weeks. That’s pretty fast for mail-order night guard companies. Here’s how the timeframe breaks down:
- Once you place your order, they ship the impression kit and it reaches you in 3–4 business days.
- You take your impressions and mail them off, taking another 3–4 business days to reach Chomper Labs.
- After your impressions arrive, Chomper Labs makes your guards in 3–4 business days, then ships them off, taking a final 3–4 business days to reach you.
Chomper Labs offers a fast-track option for an additional $25, which means they’ll make and ship your guard within 24 hours of receiving your impressions. Just select the option at checkout, and remember that it only speeds up manufacturing, not shipping.
Your impressions stay on file for up to two years.
This means that if you need a new night guard within 24 months of your first — or just want a spare — you won’t need to take new impressions. You can keep up with whether or not your impressions are still on file by checking your account dashboard.
Chomper Labs lets you customize your product to suit your needs.
However, this isn’t quite as convenient as it could be. To switch up aspects of your night guards, you don’t just click a few boxes while ordering; you have to contact Chomper Labs directly. We would prefer something more streamlined, at least for minor changes, such as altering a guard’s thickness.
Variety
Your smile is unique — and so is your bruxism. You might have severe bruxism, or clench more than you grind, or just have a mild case you barely notice. No matter the case, excellent results require the right night guard for your needs, and Chomper Labs have a wide variety of options.
Chomper Labs has five different styles of night guards to choose from.
Which one you choose depends on your specific case of bruxism and comfort preferences. If you’re unsure which one best suits your needs, take Chomper Labs’ quiz. Their order page only lists four options, but if you hover your cursor over the “Shop” tab, you can access all five.
- The Soft ($149): This model is soft and flexible. It’s 3 millimeters thick and best for light grinding or moderate clenching.
- The Hybrid ($169): This model has a soft interior surrounded by a hard exterior. It is 2.5 millimeters thick and suited to moderate to heavy grinding.
- The Hard ($169): This model is hard and rigid. It is 2 millimeters thick and best for heavy to severe grinding.
- The Retainer ($159): This is also a hard and rigid model, but it is thinner at 1-1.5 millimeters. It can hold the teeth in place while standing up against hard grinding.
- The Daytime Ultra Thin ($149): Chomper Labs designed this guard for people who grind or clench during the day. It’s their thinnest model, so it’s barely noticeable and doesn’t impact speech.
The retainer style works well for daytime and nighttime use.
A lot of people wonder if they can use their night guards during the day as well. If you have daytime bruxism, using a guard is a great idea, but it needs to be thinner than most nighttime styles. Their Daytime Ultra Thin model is ideal for daytime wear, although their Retainer model also works, especially when you choose the one-millimeter thickness.
With five styles to choose from, including a daytime model and one that works for day and night wear, Chomper Labs offers all the variety you need.
Customer Experience
Your night guard is at the center of your customer experience, but there are many smaller details that round it out. From customer support to guarantees, these might not be the most attention-grabbing details, but they can radically impact how you feel about treatment, and most customers are satisfied with their Chomper Labs experience.
Chomper Labs backs their products with two guarantees and a warranty.
Their first guarantee is the Perfect Fit Promise. According to their website, if your guard doesn’t fit perfectly, they will adjust or remake it for free. They also have their 100 Day Guarantee. If you want a refund in the first 100 days after receiving your guard, they’ll issue it. It’s actually one of the longest guarantee periods in the industry. Most are 60 days or less.
Then there’s their six-month Grind-Free Warranty. Basically, if you grind through your night guard in six months or less, they will replace it for free. The only restriction is that it strictly covers damage caused by grinding and clenching. If you leave it near a heat source or your dog chews it up, that is outside the warranty.
Their customer education library is extensive.
Chomper Labs knows that not everyone just starting out with night guards is ready to jump right in. That’s why they have a pretty extensive online library, featuring articles on choosing the right guard and a complete how-to guide for using them. They also have many blog posts covering some of the most common questions customers have.
While their customer service isn’t the easiest to reach, they are friendly and well-informed.
Chomper Labs does not offer support via web chat or phone, so you need to reach out through contact form or email. When we reached out, it often took over a day to get a response. With that said, when they responded, they were friendly and gave us the answers we needed.
Best Alternatives to Chomper Labs
ClearClub ($135-$155)
ClearClub is a subscription-based night guard service (though you can make a one-time purchase as well). It’s a notable option because of its low price and the option to have colored night guards — something very few other companies offer. All their materials are FDA approved, non-allergenic, latex-free, and BPA-free. Plus, they back their guards with a 60-day, 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Pro Teeth Guard ($159–$199)
Like Chomper Labs, Pro Teeth Guard is a professional dental lab that sells directly to consumers. They have four guards to choose from, including one designed for daytime wear, but their most notable feature is their 60-day guarantee: if you aren’t 100% happy with your guard after 60 days, they’ll refund you 110% of the cost.
Sporting Smiles ($90–$105)
Sporting Smiles has the lowest prices for single-purchase night guards and offers six different models — more than any other company we reviewed. They’ve been in business since 2009, making them one of the most experienced mail-order night guard providers. They also digitize your impressions so you can skip ever taking new ones.
Is Chomper Labs Right for You?
Chomper Labs delivers professional night guards straight to your door for a fraction of what you’d spend at the dentist. They excel at customization, offer enough models that everyone can find their perfect fit, and back their products with unbeatable guarantees. While they could improve their communication channels, overall, they’re a pretty great night guard company.
Chomper Labs has plenty to offer, but it might not be perfect for you. Read about our top five choices for mail-order night guards to see what other companies can offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the primary benefits of choosing mail-order night guards?
This answer is different for everyone, but in our estimate, the top three benefits are greater affordability, increased convenience, and strong guarantees (from most providers).
What are the primary benefits of going with in-office night guards instead?
We think the top three reasons to choose in-office night guards over mail-order ones are the option to use your insurance benefits, being able to treat other concerns simultaneously, and getting direct supervision and communication.
Are the savings you get with mail-order night guards significant?
We think so, though the significance depends on everything from the company you purchase from to where you live. In most cases, you’ll save at least $120, but this number could be upwards of $800.
Can I wear my night guard during the day?
Yes, but look for rigid, thin night guards. They’ll impact your speech the least, making them the most comfortable. Even if you use the same guard day and night, you must take them out to eat and drink, then clean them before putting them back in.
How should a night guard fit?
It needs to fit snugly, so it stays in place without biting or sucking on the guard. You might feel soreness as your teeth adjust, but your guard should never be painful.
Can I wear night guards on both dental arches for double the protection?
Yes, but you probably shouldn’t. Wearing two night guards that are 1.5 millimeters thick or less together is safe — but it just isn’t necessary since one offers all the protection you need. If you select guards that are too thick, wearing two could actually cause greater problems with your jaw joints.
How often should I clean my night guard?
You need to clean your guard every time you use it — both when you put it in and when you take it out. Rinsing with cold water and mouthwash is good for quick cleanings. For a deeper cleaning, use a soft-bristled toothbrush as well.
How can I find out if I have bruxism?
Since it is a medical diagnosis, you need to speak with a dentist. However, the following signs can be indicators:
- Worn-down teeth, especially molars.
- Cracked teeth, especially molars.
- Pain in the jaw and ears when chewing or yawning.
- Popping sounds from the jaw joint.
- Chronic headaches, neck pain, or shoulder pain.
- Frequent daytime fatigue.
- Sensitive teeth.
What causes bruxism?
There is no exact cause of bruxism. It is linked to mental and emotional stress, but these aren’t universal causes.
Is it OK to use a sports guard instead of a night guard?
We know it’s tempting since sports guards are cheap and widely available. They’re just not a good alternative to night guards. Sports guards are thicker and designed to deal with different stresses and pressures. Using one at night will likely cause pain.
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