Ordering a custom night guard online has become a normal thing to do, and the process is shorter than most people expect. You take impressions at home, mail them back, and a guard made from your own teeth arrives ready to wear. What trips people up isn’t the ordering. It’s knowing what happens at each stage, what you’re responsible for, and how to tell a guard that will protect your enamel from one that won’t. Here’s the whole path, start to finish.
Key takeaways
- You can get a custom night guard without a dentist visit: take impressions at home, and a licensed dentist reviews your case.
- Your impression kit ships in 24 to 48 hours, and your guard ships within 3 weeks of us receiving your impressions.
- A FixUrSmile night guard is dual-laminate (soft inside, durable outside) for $297 per arch.
- A night guard protects your enamel, but it doesn’t stop grinding. Ongoing jaw pain is worth a dental visit.
Why a Custom Night Guard Beats a Drugstore Guard
A night guard works by keeping your upper and lower teeth from grinding against each other. To do that, it has to stay in place all night and spread the force across your teeth instead of a few spots.
A drugstore guard is shaped to an average mouth, so it often fits loosely, feels bulky, and can fall out while you sleep. A custom guard is made over a model of your own teeth, which keeps it seated and lets it stay thin enough that you stop noticing it. That fit is the whole difference. Learn more in our guide to the best night guard for teeth grinding.
Night Guard Options Compared
| Type | Typical cost | Fit |
|---|---|---|
| Over-the-counter (boil-and-bite) | About $20 to $30* | One-size or self-molded, often bulky |
| Custom guard from a dentist | About $300 to $1,000* | Made from impressions taken in the office |
| Custom guard from an online lab | About $50 to $200* | Made from your at-home impressions |
| FixUrSmile custom night guard | $297 per arch | Dual-laminate, made in our US lab after licensed dentist review |
*Ranges reported by GoodRx. Prices vary by provider, material, and location. See our night guard cost guide.
Step 1: Order Your Impression Kit
When you order a custom night guard, we ship your at-home impression kit within 24 to 48 hours. It includes impression trays, impression material, printed instructions, and a prepaid return label. Not sure which arch to choose? See upper or lower night guard.
Step 2: Take Your Impressions
Set aside about 20 minutes and work at a counter with a mirror and good light. Read the instructions all the way through before you mix anything, because the material starts setting as soon as it’s mixed.
- Brush and floss first.
- Mix the material until the color is even, and press it into the tray without overfilling.
- Seat the tray over your teeth, starting at the back.
- Hold still for the full setting time. Use a timer you can see, because moving while it sets is what ruins most impressions.
- Remove the tray with one straight pull.
Check your work under good light. Every tooth should show clear detail, and the material should be firm all over. If a tooth is blurry or you can see the tray through the material, email our support team before you mail it. Our impression guide shows what a good impression looks like, and these common impression mistakes are easy to avoid.
Step 3: Mail Your Impressions Back
Rinse the impressions with cool water, pack them in the box, and include any paperwork the kit asks for. Missing forms hold up more orders than imperfect impressions do. Then send it back with the prepaid label. Return shipping is covered.
Step 4: Licensed Dentist Review
When your impressions reach our lab, a licensed dentist reviews your case. A custom night guard needs a dentist’s prescription before a lab can make it, and a well-run online service builds that review into every order instead of skipping it.
Step 5: Our Lab Makes Your Guard
A technician pours your impressions in dental stone to create a hard model of your teeth, then forms the guard over that model, trims it, and polishes it.
The right material depends on how hard you grind. Soft guards can suit light grinders, but heavy grinders can chew through soft material within months. A dual-laminate guard, soft against your teeth and hard on the outside, works for most people who grind or clench. That’s how the FixUrSmile night guard is made: soft inside and durable outside, for $297 per arch. Compare the types in hard vs. soft vs. dual-laminate night guards.
Step 6: Your Night Guard Arrives
Your guard ships within 3 weeks of us receiving your impressions, ready to wear. If the fit isn’t right, our Custom Fit Guarantee covers one free fit adjustment when you report it within 30 days, and a free remake if the adjustment doesn’t fix it.
Wear it every night. It takes a few nights to get used to, and extra saliva at first is normal. Here’s how a night guard should fit.
How to Care for Your Night Guard
- Rinse it with cool water every morning, and brush it gently with a soft brush and mild soap. Toothpaste scratches the surface, and scratches hold stains and bacteria.
- Let it dry fully, then store it in a ventilated case.
- Keep it away from hot water, direct sun, and car dashboards. Heat can warp the material, and a warped guard won’t fit.
- Check it monthly under good light. Thin spots, cracks, or a change in how it fits mean it’s time for a replacement.
For a full routine, see how to clean a night guard.
What a Night Guard Doesn’t Fix
A night guard protects your enamel. It doesn’t stop you from grinding, and that matters if your main problem is jaw pain rather than tooth wear. Here are the signs your night guard is not working.
Grinding can be linked to sleep apnea, so heavy snoring or waking up exhausted is worth raising with your doctor. Some medications also list grinding as a side effect. If your symptoms continue even with a well-fitting guard, talk to your dentist or doctor about the cause. Our guide on how to stop grinding teeth covers habits that help.
Custom Night Guard Online: FAQ
Can you get a night guard without going to the dentist?
Yes. With FixUrSmile, you take impressions at home and mail them back, and a licensed dentist reviews your case before our lab makes your guard. If you have jaw pain, loose teeth, or other symptoms, see your dentist as well.
How long does it take to get a custom night guard online?
Your impression kit ships within 24 to 48 hours of ordering. After we receive your impressions, your night guard ships within 3 weeks.
How much does a custom night guard cost online?
A FixUrSmile custom night guard is $297 per arch, with free shipping. A custom guard from a dental office typically costs about $300 to $1,000, according to GoodRx.
Can I make my own night guard at home?
A boil-and-bite guard is molded at home, but it’s shaped by softening plastic in your mouth rather than built on a model of your teeth, so it’s usually bulkier and looser. A custom guard is made in a dental lab from your impressions.
Is an online night guard as good as one from a dentist?
A custom guard’s quality comes from your impressions and the lab that makes it. Ours is made in a US dental lab after a licensed dentist reviews your case.
Protect your enamel tonight with a custom night guard for $297 per arch.
Order Your Night Guard