Custom Night Guards and Retainers
Custom night guards and retainers in North Park help protect your teeth and preserve the results of orthodontic treatment. At Sunshine Dentistry, Dr. Kambiz Ardjmand provides professionally fitted oral appliances designed for comfort, durability, and long-term oral health.
Whether you grind your teeth at night or recently completed braces or clear aligner therapy, a custom appliance keeps your smile safe while you sleep. Our San Diego team takes precise impressions to create a fit that store-bought options simply cannot match.
What Are Night Guards?
A night guard — also called an occlusal splint or bite guard — is a custom-made oral appliance worn during sleep. It creates a protective barrier between the upper and lower teeth, preventing the enamel damage, jaw strain, and headaches that result from bruxism (teeth grinding and clenching).
Bruxism affects an estimated 10–15 percent of adults and often goes undetected until noticeable wear appears on the teeth. At Sunshine Dentistry, we use digital or traditional impressions to fabricate a night guard that fits precisely over your teeth, absorbing and redistributing the forces of grinding so your enamel, restorations, and jaw joints stay protected.
Signs You May Need a Night Guard
Morning Jaw Pain or Stiffness
Persistent soreness in the jaw muscles upon waking is one of the most common signs of nighttime grinding or clenching.
Frequent Headaches
Tension headaches — especially upon waking — can result from the sustained muscle activity of bruxism during sleep.
Worn or Flattened Teeth
Teeth that appear shorter, have flat biting surfaces, or show visible wear patterns may indicate chronic grinding.
Chipped or Cracked Teeth
Repeated grinding forces can fracture enamel and damage existing dental restorations like crowns or fillings.
Tooth Sensitivity
As enamel wears down, the underlying dentin becomes exposed, leading to increased sensitivity to hot, cold, or sweet foods.
Disrupted Sleep
A sleep partner may notice audible grinding sounds, or you may wake frequently without a clear cause.
What Are Retainers?
Retainers are custom orthodontic appliances that maintain tooth alignment after braces or clear aligner treatment. Without a retainer, teeth naturally tend to shift back toward their original positions — a process called orthodontic relapse.
Our San Diego office offers both removable and fixed retainer options:
- Removable clear retainers — Transparent, tray-style retainers that are virtually invisible and easy to clean. Ideal for patients who want a discreet option for nightly wear. - Removable Hawley retainers — A classic design with an acrylic base and a thin metal wire that holds the front teeth in place. Durable and adjustable. - Fixed (bonded) retainers — A thin wire bonded to the back of the front teeth for continuous retention without the need to remember to wear an appliance.
Dr. Kambiz Ardjmand will recommend the retainer type best suited to your treatment history, lifestyle, and long-term retention goals.
Benefits of Custom-Fit Appliances
Precise, Comfortable Fit
Custom appliances are made from exact impressions of your teeth, ensuring a snug fit that stays in place throughout the night.
Superior Protection
Professional-grade materials absorb and distribute bite forces more effectively than generic over-the-counter alternatives.
Long-Lasting Durability
High-quality fabrication means your appliance can last several years with proper care, making it a worthwhile investment.
Preserved Dental Work
Night guards shield crowns, veneers, fillings, and implants from the damaging forces of grinding and clenching.
Maintained Alignment
Retainers prevent teeth from drifting after orthodontic treatment, protecting the time and investment you put into a straighter smile.
Better Sleep Quality
Reducing jaw tension and grinding noise can improve both your sleep and the sleep of those around you.
What to Expect During Your Appointment
Oral Examination
Your dentist evaluates your teeth, jaw joints, and bite to determine the appropriate appliance type for your needs.
Impressions or Digital Scan
Precise impressions or a digital scan captures the exact shape of your teeth for fabrication at a dental laboratory.
Custom Fabrication
A dental lab creates your night guard or retainer from professional-grade materials tailored to your specific bite and comfort requirements.
Fitting Appointment
You return to try the finished appliance. Your dentist checks the fit, makes any necessary adjustments, and ensures comfort.
Care Instructions
You receive detailed guidance on daily cleaning, storage, and when to schedule follow-up checks for your appliance.
Caring for Your Night Guard or Retainer
Proper care extends the life of your appliance and keeps it hygienic:
- Rinse after every use with cool water to remove saliva and debris. - Brush gently with a soft toothbrush and mild, non-abrasive soap. Avoid toothpaste, which can scratch the surface. - Avoid heat — never use hot water, leave the appliance in direct sunlight, or place it near a heat source. Heat warps the material and affects the fit. - Store in a ventilated case when not in use to allow air circulation and prevent bacterial growth. - Bring it to appointments so your dentist can inspect it for wear, cracks, or fit changes.
Schedule Your Night Guard or Retainer Consultation
Protecting your teeth while you sleep is one of the simplest steps you can take for long-term oral health. Whether you suspect you grind your teeth or need a retainer to maintain your orthodontic results, call Sunshine Dentistry at 619-282-1007 to schedule a consultation with our dentist, Dr. Kambiz Ardjmand, in San Diego, CA.
Related Services
Explore other services that support and protect your smile:
- Orthodontics — Clear aligner therapy and orthodontic solutions for straighter teeth.
- Invisalign® — Discreet clear aligners to improve your smile alignment.
- Dental Crowns — Protect and restore teeth weakened by grinding or damage.
Frequently Asked Questions About Night Guards and Retainers
A night guard is a protective appliance worn during sleep to prevent damage from teeth grinding and clenching (bruxism). A retainer is designed to hold teeth in position after orthodontic treatment. While both are custom oral appliances, they serve different purposes and are made with different materials and thicknesses.
Common signs include waking with jaw pain, headaches, or tooth sensitivity; noticing worn, flattened, or chipped teeth; or hearing from a sleep partner that you grind your teeth at night. Your dentist can also identify wear patterns during a routine exam.
A professionally made night guard typically lasts three to five years with proper care. Heavier grinders may need replacement sooner. Bring your night guard to dental appointments so your dentist can check it for wear and fit.
Yes. Custom night guards are fabricated from precise impressions of your teeth, providing a secure, comfortable fit that distributes bite forces evenly. Store-bought guards use a generic shape that may shift during sleep, cause jaw discomfort, or fail to protect adequately.
Most patients wear retainers full-time for the first several months after treatment, then transition to nighttime-only wear. Many orthodontic professionals recommend wearing a retainer at night indefinitely to prevent teeth from gradually shifting back.
Rinse the appliance with cool water after each use. Brush it gently with a soft toothbrush and mild soap — avoid hot water, which can warp the material. Store it in a ventilated case and bring it to your dental visits for professional inspection and cleaning.
Ready to Protect Your Smile?
Whether you need relief from teeth grinding or want to preserve your orthodontic results, custom-fit appliances make a difference. Call Sunshine Dentistry at 619-282-1007 to schedule a consultation with our dentist, Dr. Kambiz Ardjmand.