Night guards and teeth grinding treatment in Miami begin with a simple question: is grinding really what is wearing down your teeth or making your jaw sore? At Prana Dental in Edgewater, Dr. Aakash Rana, DDS checks for the signs, explains what he finds, and, if a guard makes sense, has one made to fit your bite from a digital 3D scan in our in-house lab. Call or text (786) 579-0521; we're open Monday to Saturday, 8am to 8pm.
The medical name for grinding or clenching your teeth is bruxism. It comes in two main forms. Sleep bruxism happens at night, usually without you knowing, and is often noticed by a partner or a dentist first. Awake bruxism is more often clenching than grinding: holding the teeth together while you concentrate, drive, work at a screen or feel stressed.
Some grinding is common and harmless. It becomes a problem when it is frequent or forceful enough to wear teeth down, crack fillings, or leave your jaw muscles sore. That is the point where protecting the teeth, and looking at what is driving the habit, is worth doing. Our posts on teeth grinding at night and whether you need a night guard go into the background.
Because sleep grinding happens while you are asleep, most people find out from its effects. During an exam, Dr. Rana looks for clues like these:
None of these proves grinding on its own, and some have other causes. Put together with what you tell us, they help us decide whether a guard is likely to help.
Bruxism usually has more than one cause, and in many people the cause is never fully pinned down. Common contributors include:
A guard protects the teeth, but it doesn't remove these triggers. Cutting back on late caffeine, working on sleep and stress, and noticing daytime clenching (lips together, teeth apart is a useful reminder) can all help alongside it.
The temporomandibular joints, or TMJs, are the hinges in front of each ear that let your jaw open, close and slide. Problems with the joints or the muscles around them are often called TMD. Common signs include jaw pain, clicking or popping, a jaw that feels stuck for a moment, pain when chewing, and headaches or ear discomfort with no ear problem behind it.
Grinding and clenching can contribute to jaw muscle pain, and for many people a well-fitted guard, along with soft food for a while, short-term over-the-counter pain relief taken as the label directs, and simple jaw care, can ease symptoms. But TMD has many possible causes, and a guard doesn't help everyone. Clicking without pain often needs no treatment at all.
We refer complex cases. If your jaw locks open or closed, if pain is severe or has lasted for months, if it followed an injury, or if your bite has suddenly changed, Dr. Rana will refer you to a dentist who focuses on orofacial pain, an oral surgeon or your physician for further evaluation. Our post on TMJ disorder symptoms and treatment explains more.
Pharmacy guards come in two kinds: one-size stock trays, and boil-and-bite guards you soften in hot water and bite into. They can be a reasonable stopgap for a short time. A custom guard is made from a scan of your own teeth and adjusted to your bite in the chair.
| Store-bought | Custom from a dentist | |
|---|---|---|
| Fit | Approximate; can feel loose or bulky | Made from a 3D scan of your teeth |
| Bite | Not adjusted to how your teeth meet | Adjusted so your teeth touch evenly on it |
| Thickness and material | Usually soft and thick | Chosen for you: hard, soft or a hard-outside, soft-inside layered guard |
| Comfort for nightly wear | Many people stop wearing them | Thinner and easier to sleep in for many people |
| How long it lasts | Often months, especially for heavy grinders who chew through soft guards | Often years with good care, depending on how hard you grind |
| Checkups | None | Checked at your visits for wear and fit |
| Upfront cost | Lower | Higher, sometimes partly covered by insurance |
A guard that doesn't fit well can rock, fall out at night or press unevenly on some teeth. If you use a store-bought one, stop if it makes your teeth or jaw sore, and bring it to your visit so we can see how you wear it.
Made of rigid acrylic, usually for the upper teeth. They tend to last longest and let the jaw glide smoothly, which suits many heavy grinders.
Flexible and gentle for light or occasional clenching. Some people chew on soft material, so they aren't always the right choice for heavy grinding.
A firm outer surface with a softer lining against the teeth. A common middle ground when comfort and durability both matter.
Most night guards cover the upper teeth. A lower guard may suit people with a strong gag reflex or certain bites. Dr. Rana suggests one and explains why.
Getting a custom guard usually takes two short visits.
Your first visit at Prana is free: an exam, a 3D scan and a smile preview. It is a good starting point if you want to know whether grinding is behind what you are noticing.
Most people need a few nights to a couple of weeks to get used to sleeping with a guard. Extra saliva, a slightly odd bite in the first few minutes after you take it out, and a feeling of fullness are common at first and usually settle. Pain, a guard that feels tighter on one tooth, or a bite that still feels off an hour after you take it out are not normal; call or text and we will adjust it.
A sports mouthguard is a different appliance from a night guard. It is thicker, cushions the teeth, lips and jaw against impact, and is made for wearing while you are awake and breathing hard. A night guard isn't designed to protect against a ball or an elbow, and a sports guard isn't meant for sleeping in.
Dental groups recommend mouthguards for contact and collision sports such as football, basketball, hockey, soccer, martial arts and boxing, and for skateboarding and similar activities. Custom sports guards made from a 3D scan tend to stay in place and let you speak and breathe more easily than generic ones. Kids and teens outgrow them as their teeth and jaws change, so we check the fit as they grow; see our kids dentistry page. If a tooth does get knocked out, follow our guide to the first 30 minutes.
Grinding and sleep-related breathing problems sometimes go together. A night guard isn't a treatment for snoring or sleep apnea, and for some people with sleep apnea a standard guard may not be the right appliance. If you snore loudly, stop breathing or gasp in your sleep, wake up unrefreshed or feel very sleepy during the day, please talk to your physician, who can arrange a sleep evaluation. Dr. Rana doesn't diagnose sleep apnea, but he will mention signs he notices and refer you to your physician. More in our post on sleep apnea and oral health.
A guard protects what is left, and it is usually the first step before repairing worn teeth, so new work isn't ground down too. Small chips and worn edges can often be rebuilt with dental bonding. Teeth that are cracked or heavily worn may need crowns, made in our in-house lab. Severe wear across many teeth needs a careful, step-by-step plan, and we talk through options and priorities with you rather than doing everything at once.
Dr. Rana is a general dentist, and guards are part of our general dentistry care. He diagnoses common grinding and clenching, makes and adjusts custom guards, and repairs worn teeth. We refer you onward when the picture is more complicated: to your physician or a sleep doctor if sleep apnea is suspected; to a dentist who focuses on orofacial pain, or an oral surgeon, for jaw locking, long-lasting jaw pain or joint problems after an injury; and to your physician if headaches, ear symptoms or medicines may need a closer look.
The cost of a custom guard depends on the type and material, whether it is a night guard or a sports guard, whether it covers the upper or lower teeth, and how much adjustment your bite needs. Any related work, such as bonding worn edges, is planned and priced separately. You get the exact price in writing before anything is made.
We accept most major dental insurance. Some plans pay part of the cost of a night guard for grinding, often with conditions such as a documented diagnosis or a limit of one guard every few years, and some plans don't cover them at all. Sports guards are covered less often. We check your benefits for you. For costs insurance doesn't cover, 0% financing is available on approved credit through CareCredit, Cherry and LendingClub.
We are at 3050 Biscayne Blvd, Suite 703, on Biscayne Blvd at NE 30th St in Edgewater, with building parking and street parking. Many Edgewater residents can walk, and Midtown is about 5 minutes away by car, depending on traffic. Hours are Monday to Saturday, 8am to 8pm, which makes it easier to schedule both visits around work.
Dr. Aakash Rana, DDS is a general dentist trained at NYU College of Dentistry, with more than $100,000 in continuing education. He plans and treats each case at Prana Dental himself, works with our in-house lab, and refers to a specialist when a case needs one.
Not everyone who grinds needs one. A guard is usually suggested when grinding is wearing your teeth, damaging fillings or crowns, or leaving your jaw sore. An exam can show whether the wear pattern points to grinding, and Dr. Rana will tell you honestly if a guard isn't needed yet.
For regular nightly use, many people find a custom guard fits better, is thinner and more comfortable, and lasts longer, which makes them more likely to keep wearing it. A store-bought guard costs less upfront and can work as a short-term stopgap. Stop using any guard that makes your teeth or jaw hurt.
It depends on the material and how hard you grind. Soft guards may wear out within a year or so for heavy grinders, while hard acrylic guards often last several years with good care. Bring your guard to checkups so we can see when it needs replacing.
A guard can ease jaw muscle pain linked to grinding or clenching for many people, but it doesn't cure every jaw joint problem. TMJ disorders have many causes. Complex cases, such as a jaw that locks or pain lasting months, are referred for further evaluation.
Most night guards are made for the upper teeth, but a lower guard can suit people with a strong gag reflex or certain bites. Either can protect the teeth when it is made and adjusted properly. Dr. Rana recommends one based on your bite and comfort.
Talk to your physician first. A standard night guard doesn't treat sleep apnea, and for some people with sleep apnea it may not be the right appliance. If you have been diagnosed or have symptoms like loud snoring and gasping at night, tell us so we can plan with your physician's advice.
Some plans pay part of the cost of a night guard for grinding, often with conditions like a documented diagnosis or a limit on how often it is replaced, and some don't cover them. Most major dental insurance is accepted here, and we check your benefits for you.
Call or text (786) 579-0521 to have your teeth checked for grinding. Open, Monday to Saturday, 8am to 8pm.