general dentistry
Guards: cheap insurance for expensive teeth.
Two different guards, one economic logic: a fitted piece of plastic costs a fraction of the dentistry it prevents. Night guards absorb the grinding you do in your sleep; sports guards absorb the lacrosse stick you never saw coming.
Both are made from a digital scan — iTero Lumina, no goop — and fitted properly, which is the entire difference between a guard that gets worn and one that gets abandoned by Thursday.
Night guards: for the grinding you don't remember
Most grinders find out secondhand: a spouse hears it, a hygienist spots the flattened edges, a morning jaw aches for no reason. Clenching and grinding at night put enormous force on teeth — cracking enamel, shortening crowns and veneers, and waking the jaw muscles up sore.
A custom night guard doesn't stop the habit; it makes the habit cheap. The plastic takes the wear instead of your enamel, and most people adjust to sleeping in one within a week or two. Pharmacy boil-and-bites exist, and for a short trial they're fine — but they're bulky, short-lived, and the reason many people believe they 'can't wear a guard.'
Sports guards: for Western Albemarle's seasons
Basketball, lacrosse, soccer, mountain-bike trails — any sport with elbows, sticks, or gravity is a sport with dental potential. A custom guard fits well enough that young athletes actually keep it in, breathe and talk around it, and stop chewing it into modern art by mid-season.
For kids in braces or aligners, storefront guards fit worst exactly when protection matters most — say so when you book and the guard gets designed around the treatment.
Questions we hear in the chair
- How do I know if I grind at night?
- Morning jaw tightness, headaches at the temples, flattened or chipped edges, and teeth sensitive for no visible reason. The wear pattern is visible at your exam — ask, and you'll see it on the screen.
- How long does a night guard last?
- Several years for most grinders — the guard wearing down is the evidence working as intended. Bring it to cleanings; we track its wear like we track your enamel's.
- Custom guard vs. the drugstore one?
- The drugstore version is bulk-fit and short-lived but cheap; the custom one is slim, durable, and actually tolerable to sleep in. If grinding is confirmed, custom pays for itself against the crowns it protects.
- Does insurance cover night guards?
- Many plans contribute when grinding damage is documented — which yours may already be, in your chart. We check before quoting, as with everything.
Clinical content reviewed by Dr. Marissa DeAngelis, Senior Dentist.
Serving Crozet for 50+ years. At least two full-time doctors in the building, Monday through Friday.