Night Guards From Dentist vs. Online: How They Compare

Headache, fatigue, ringing in the ears, a stiff jaw — sounds like a pretty nasty virus. In truth, these are all common symptoms of bruxism, aka unconscious grinding and clenching of the teeth and jaw, usually while sleeping. None of these symptoms are fun to live with, so managing your bruxism is essential.

The number one way to do it? Wear a night guard! These removable appliances fit over your teeth, stopping them from grinding against each other and making enough space to relieve pressure on the jaw. But where should you buy yours: online or through your dentist? We have all the details you need to decide.

All About Night Guards

When you clench and grind your teeth, you can create or exacerbate a wide variety of health problems. Chronic neck pain, popping jaws, and cracked molars are just a few of the many side effects of bruxism — and night guards can help get this unconscious habit under control.

They stop the teeth in the upper arch from touching those in the lower arch. This prevents them from grinding against each other by putting 1–3 millimeters of plastic between them, which helps lessen pressure on the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).

By reducing pressure on the teeth and jaw joint, night guards lessen symptoms of bruxism, like headaches, neck pain, and ear pain. However, it is important to know that night guards don’t stop your bruxism; you still can (and likely will) clench your jaw and grind your teeth against the night guard.

To get the most out of it, you need to select the right night guard for you. Which is best for you depends on your unique preferences, whether you clench or grind (or both), and the severity of your bruxism. Below are the four primary types of night guards.

Soft Night Guards

These night guards are flexible and give a bit when you bite into them, making them a good choice for those who clench their teeth and/or have light grinding. They are pretty thick at three millimeters, but that gives good cushion for the jaw. The biggest downside is that they tear more easily than other types of guards.

Single Layer Hard Night Guard

Also known as the retainer-style night guard, these have a single layer of highly rigid material. Usually just a millimeter thick, they aren’t as bulky as most night guards, so you can wear them during the day as well — either as part of your routine or whenever you’re stressed. Just keep in mind that they don’t hold up well to heavy grinding, just clenching and mild grinding.

Dual Laminate Night Guard

This type of night guard combines two different materials to better address the needs of those with heavy grinding and moderate clenching. It has a soft, one-millimeter-thick inner layer surrounded by a two-millimeter-thick hard outer layer. This helps it stand up to a lot of force while also allowing it plenty of give. It is also thick enough to take a lot of pressure off the jaw.

Hard Flexible Night Guard

If your bruxism is severe, you most likely need the hard flexible night guard. Most companies make these about three millimeters thick, taking a lot of strain off the jaw joint. The material is dense and strong, so it is hard to bite through, but it still has enough flexibility that it is gentle on the teeth and joints.

No matter which type of night guard you purchase, you’ll need to replace it from time to time. Some people can use the same guard for up to five years, while others will need to replace theirs every 3–6 months. Inspect your night guard for signs of damage or excessive wear each time you use it.

In-Office vs. At-Home Night Guards: The Pros and Cons

In-office and mail-order night guards both offer bruxism relief. However, your experience will be slightly different depending on which option you choose. So, between the two options, which is better? They both have their benefits and drawbacks.

Neither is inherently better than the other. It’s really about which is best for your unique needs and goals. To help you better understand how each could work for you, let’s take a more in-depth look at how their affordability, speed, convenience, variety, and customer service compare.

Affordability

Most of us are naturally drawn to a good deal. However, the growth of remote dentistry is driven by more than just the love of a bargain; many people lack regular and necessary dental healthcare because they simply cannot afford it. And mail-order night guards are much more affordable than their in-office counterparts.

But just how much more affordable are they? Mail-order night guards average $80–$200 per guard, while in-offices prices fall into the range of $300–$1,000. That means you’ll likely save anywhere from $120 to $800 — not a small chunk of change. And this lower price doesn’t mean lower quality; in many cases, mail-order night guards are made by the exact same labs dentists use.

But there is more to affordability than just the sticker price. Insurance and financing and have an influence. Dental insurance plans sometimes cover in-office night guards if they’re categorized as an active form of treatment rather than a preventative one; this might require your dentist to complete some paperwork though. Mail-order night guards are covered less often, though there are a few providers that say they accept insurance payments.

As for financing, many dental offices will work with you on a payment plan if you cannot afford the full cost of your night guards outright. However, when we looked at mail-order providers, we didn’t come across any with a financing plan. Their low prices make it somewhat justifiable, but it could mean working with a dentist will fit your budget better.

However, mail-order companies offer one thing most dental offices don’t — discounts and coupons. It is common to find online night guards with sales of up to 25%, plus special coupons throughout the year. And some even offer discounted prices when you add other dental treatments, like whitening, or when you reorder night guards. So, while each has its benefits, for most people, mail-order night guards will be the more affordable option.

Delivery Speed

When you have bruxism, time is of the essence. Every night you sleep without a night guard, you could do more damage to your teeth, muscles, and jaw joints. In-office night guards usually require more of a wait.

Dental offices rarely send off their impressions after each new patient; instead, they wait and send them out on set days or once they have enough to justify the shipping. Plus, in-office guards involve two appointments — one to get the impressions taken and one to try on the guard. Since adults and their dentists have busy schedules, you probably won’t be able to book a visit for the exact day the night guards arrive.

Mail-order night guards, on the other hand, don’t rely on office schedules. You can complete the impressions the day you get the kit and ship them off right after they firm up. And you don’t need to make an appointment to pick up your guard — the company will ship it directly to your home. Combined, this translates to getting your guards 1–2 weeks sooner than if you got them through a dentist.

However, there is one aspect where mail-order night guards often fall short of in-office ones — adjustments. If you need a minor change to your guard, your dentist might be able to make a few small tweaks for a perfect fit. Mail-order night guard companies make you send your guards back for adjustments, which can take 1–2 weeks.

Convenience

As a busy adult, you don’t want to dedicate a lot of time or mental bandwidth to getting your night guard. Overall, mail-order night guards offer greater convenience outside of the impression process.

Since we already mentioned them, let’s start with the impressions. Mail-order night guards require you to take your own using the company’s impression kit. Since most people aren’t skilled at taking impressions of their teeth, this can be awkward, messy, and easy to make mistakes. It’s easier if you watch a few tutorials first, but it is more stressful than having a doctor do it for you.

At-home night guards get more convenient when you consider office visits, though. In-office night guards require you to make two hour-long visits to your dentist, plus your travel time. Mail-order guards let you handle the entire process from home whenever it’s convenient for you.

Of course, you need to replace night guards every 1–5 years, and here, mail-order companies are still more convenient. They usually keep your impressions on file for future orders, and many even offer subscription services that ship new guards to your house automatically every three, four, or six months. If you get yours through a dentist, you need to make phone calls to order — and potentially an additional office visit.

Variety

Each case of bruxism is unique. Some people clench more than they grind. Some grind a lot, while others just grind a little. Having options can help you find the night guard model that best fits your case.

Night guards come in varying thicknesses and levels of firmness. Soft guards are more comfortable to wear, but they’re usually only good for mild cases, or for people who clench more than they grind. Hard ones, on the other hand, can stand up to heavy grinding and clenching, but they’re more rigid and less comfortable. Some labs also make dual-laminate guards — a soft inside layer with a harder shell.

You can also get night guards in varying thicknesses, typically between one and three millimeters. Thinner guards are best for daytime grinding and light nighttime episodes, but people who experience severe grinding episodes overnight will want a thicker one.

Here’s the thing: Not all labs make every type of night guard. Some make just one type, while others make 2–3, and others still make nearly all the options that exist. Some dentists partner with labs that make the full gamut, but most don’t. So if you decide to purchase one through a dentist, you might not have access to many options.

This isn’t the case with mail-order night guards. Not every provider offers every night guard type, but you can choose from numerous mail-order companies. For example, Clear Club offers three different thicknesses, but only one level of firmness, while Pro Teeth Guard has soft, hard, and hybrid guards, but you can’t customize the thickness.

It’s just a matter of finding the retailer that sells the model you need. You might need to search a little, but you’ll end up with the ideal guard for your bruxism.

Customer Support

You should receive stellar customer service no matter which option you choose, but in-office and at-home night guards excel here in different ways. In-office night guards provide direct attention and personalized, hands-on care from a professional.

Since you see your dentist in person at least two times, you get the chance to talk things over, ask questions, and get help if you need it. Remote night guards try to match this with their remote customer support, but nothing quite reaches the level you get with in-person interaction.

Remote night guards usually outperform them in guarantees, though. Because dentists set their own terms, you never know what you’re going to get until you ask. Mail-order night guard companies list their policies right on their websites, and most of them offer 100% satisfaction guarantees.

The Best Mail-Order Night Guard Providers

So, you’ve heard the pros and cons, and you are leaning towards mail-order night guards for your bruxism. What’s the next step? Finding the provider that’s right for you, and you’ve got plenty of options. To simplify things, we suggest you start your search with the three options below.

ClearClub ($145–$190)

At the moment, ClearClub is our favorite night guard provider. With over 30,000 customers behind them, they are one of the most prolific direct-to-consumer night guard providers on the market and offer a lot of variety — including colored and patterned night guards, which few competitors offer. You get to choose from five different styles; then, you set the thickness based on your comfort and needs. They also offer the option to make a one-time purchase or subscribe to save.

Pro Teeth Guard ($159–$199)

Pro Teeth Guard is a professional dental lab that works with dentists across the United States, producing top-quality night guards, plus offers their products directly to consumers. They don’t have a subscription option but given the quality, their prices are more than reasonable and their products likely to last longer than the 3–6 month renewals their competitors offer.

They have four models, including a day guard for those who clench and grind during waking hours as well. But perhaps their most stand-out feature is their robust guarantee policy; if you aren’t 100% satisfied with their night guards, they’ll issue you a 110% refund.

Sporting Smiles ($90–$105)

If you’re looking for a combination of low prices and variety, Sporting Smiles delivers. They have six different night guard models, including one that is suited to day and night wear. Plus, they sell whitening kits, retainers, and sports mouth guards — and you can order them all using just one set of impressions.

They keep a digital copy of these impressions on file for at least one year for future orders. Like Pro Teeth Guard, they don’t have a subscription option, but they make up for it by giving customers up to 35% off reorders.

Which Is Best: In-Office or Mail-Order Night Guards?

Whether you go with in-office guards or do it all from home, you’re going to end up with a solid bruxism solution. However, you might find that one option is better for you than the other.