Night Guards in Los Angeles

Custom-made protection for your teeth at night, as part of a plan that looks at why you grind.

Noticing What Happens While You Sleep

Most people who grind or clench have no idea they’re doing it, because it happens in deep sleep and often doesn’t hurt, until a filling breaks, a crown cracks, or their jaw feels tight every morning. At Forever Smile in Los Angeles, Dr. Shelyan looks for those signs at every exam, and when your teeth need protecting, he makes you a custom night guard that fits over them and takes the force of the grinding so your enamel doesn’t have to.

Protection for Your Teeth, Not a Cure

A night guard is there to keep your teeth from breaking, and Dr. Shelyan is honest with every patient about what it can’t do: it doesn’t stop the grinding, and it doesn’t change the muscles that cause it. For some people, a guard on its own can even leave those muscles feeling more tired and sore. That’s why he examines your jaw and facial muscles as carefully as your teeth, so your night guard becomes one part of a plan that eases the habit itself.

Working Alongside EMFACE TMJ

Dr. Shelyan finds that a night guard works best together with EMFACE TMJ: EMFACE relaxes the muscles behind the habit, with no needles and no downtime, while your night guard keeps your teeth safe at night. When the clenching or the symptoms are more severe, he may add Botox as well. If grinding has already worn your enamel or broken crowns and fillings, he will usually recommend both, so the care you put into your smile is protected for years to come.

Common Questions

How do I know if I grind my teeth at night?

Often you won’t, since grinding and clenching happen in deep sleep and many people feel no pain at all. Dr. Shelyan looks for the signs at your exam: worn or cracked enamel, broken fillings and crowns, gum recession, and tight, overworked jaw muscles. He can also scan your teeth to see how much force they’re taking every night.

Will a night guard stop me from grinding?

No, and Dr. Shelyan will always tell you that honestly. A night guard protects your teeth from breaking, but it doesn’t stop the grinding or change the muscles driving it. To calm the habit itself, he looks first at EMFACE TMJ, and sometimes Botox, alongside your night guard.

Do I still need a night guard if I’m having EMFACE TMJ?

It depends on how much the grinding has already done to your teeth. EMFACE TMJ works on the muscles behind the habit while your night guard protects your teeth, so patients with enamel loss, cracks or a lot of dental work often use both. Dr. Shelyan will examine you and tell you which ones you actually need.

Is a night guard comfortable to sleep in?

It should be, because a night guard only helps if you actually wear it, not leave it on the bathroom counter. Dr. Shelyan has yours made to fit your own teeth and checks the fit with you, so it feels comfortable enough to sleep in every night. If your jaw muscles still feel tired, he will adjust your plan, often by adding EMFACE TMJ.

How long will it take to get used to wearing a night guard?

Anything new in your mouth can feel a little strange at first, which is exactly why Dr. Shelyan has your guard made from a 3D scan of your own teeth: the closer it fits, the sooner it feels like a natural part of your bedtime routine instead of something you leave on the nightstand. If it still feels off after your fit-check visit, let us know and he will check the fit with you again.

Dr. Shelyan at Forever Smile, a night guard dentist in Los Angeles, CA

Night Guards for Grinding in LA

➔ Made to fit your teeth

➔ Protects your teeth while you sleep

➔ Planned alongside EMFACE TMJ

➔ Everything explained clearly

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • Does insurance cover a night guard?

    Coverage depends on your plan. We accept PPO dental plans, and our team will check your benefits and go over the cost with you before your night guard is made. If you’d like to spread out payments, we offer CareCredit, Cherry, Sunbit, in-house payment plans and major credit cards.

  • How is a custom night guard made?

    Dr. Shelyan starts with a 3D scan of your teeth, which shows which teeth take the most clenching and grinding and where cracks may be starting. The dental lab uses that scan to make a night guard for your needs, and when it’s ready, you come back so he can check the fit before you take it home.

  • Can a night guard help with jaw pain and headaches?

    A night guard takes the pressure off your teeth, but it doesn’t treat the muscles behind most jaw pain and tension headaches, and for some people it can leave those muscles more tired. EMFACE TMJ, and sometimes Botox, work on the muscles directly, so Dr. Shelyan will examine your jaw and face before recommending a plan.

  • Why would I need a night guard after a crown or gum treatment?

    Years of grinding are often what broke the teeth or pulled the gums back in the first place. If the grinding continues, it can undo new crowns, a full mouth reconstruction or Pinhole gum treatment, so Dr. Shelyan asks patients who grind to wear a night guard to protect that work.

From Our Dental Blog

Good decisions start with good information. Our blog breaks down what’s happening in your mouth in plain language, from gum health and grinding to implants, Invisalign, and EMFACE, so you can walk into our dental visit knowing the right questions to ask.