The world of dentistry has many orthodontic wonders to offer, including night guards, retainers, and mouth guards. While their appearances might not give it away, they serve entirely different purposes when used. To find out which dental appliance can provide you the most value, read this blog to explore the differences between them along with how each serves their distinct function.
Night Guards
Also known as dental guards, and bite guards, these night guards are used to protect teeth from dental problems such as grinding, clenching, and bruxism. They are primarily worn during the night, as teeth grinding can subconsciously occur when sleeping. These guards should not be confused with another variation known as daytime guards which are used to treat daytime teeth grinding.
Types
Over-The-Counter
Available in pre-made standard sizes, these night guards are usually thick, bulky, and translucent. Although they are quite affordable, over-the-counter night guards don’t offer the same comfort and protection as compared to a custom-fit night guard.
Custom-Fit
These are made as per an individual’s teeth impressions. They can be bought from either a dentist or from an online provider, who will deliver these directly to you. Generally, custom night guards come in three variants for different levels of bruxism including hard, soft, or hybrid variants. You can choose your type depending on your dental requirements.
Furthermore, you may have the option to get full teeth coverage or partial coverage. While both are effective, the choice is more of a personal preference.
Retainers
They are dental devices used to prevent dental relapses after teeth straightening treatments, either done through braces or aligners.
Types
Hawleys
They come with an acrylic or plastic plate and include a metal wire weaved through them to hold teeth in their position.
Custom Retainers
These are clear plastic trays created as per your precise dental impressions and look quite similar to clear aligners.
Mouth Guards
Mouth guards can be termed an umbrella term since these dental devices are used to guard the teeth and include night guards, sleep apnea guards, sports guards, etc. However, in everyday language, the term “mouth guard” is generally used to refer to sports guards only.
A sports mouth guard is a dental tray that is thick and rubbery. It acts as a cushion to protect teeth, jaws, and internal facial skin from external blows during physical activities.
Types
Ready To Wear
These are pre-made and ready-to-wear mouth guards that come in standard sizes. They are popular due to their high affordability but don’t offer the superior fit as custom mouth guards do.
Boil and Bite
These are also stock and over-the-counter mouth guards that are molded at home by boiling them in water.Once done, they are simply bitten into to create a custom fit. They are an affordable solution but are not as precise and durable as compared to the custom-fit variant.
Personalized Fit
They are tailor-made according to an individual's dental impression. They can be bought from your dentist or at-home providers. These custom-made offer the most comfort and protection.
Differences Between Dental Trays
We hope by now the differences are clear, but here’s a brief chart for an overall overview.
| Mouth Guards | Night Guards | Retainers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Impact Protection | Grinding | Holding Alignment |
| Clarity | Colorful | Translucent | Clear |
| Thickness | Thick (3-4mm) | Varies | Thin (1-2 mm) |
To sum it up, while night guards, retainers, and mouth guards are all effective dental solutions, they offer different benefits and are to be used according to your dental requirements. To get a better assessment of your dental condition and evaluate which option is the perfect solution for you, it is best to consult with an expert. Once done, simply reach out to us, choose our top-tier dental solutions, and start your journey toward a better smile.
FAQs
Yes, a mouth guard used for grinding is usually called a night guard or a day guard depending on when it is to be used.
Yes, a single dental tray cleaner or a denture cleaning tablet can be used for all your dental trays.
Retainers can help maintain your aligned teeth. If you want to straighten your teeth, consider using aligners or braces.
Related Blogs
Are Clear Aligners a Solution for Teeth Shifting After Braces?
How to Straighten Your Overlapping Teeth Today – SmilePath Australia
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