A custom night guard costs anywhere from $99 to $800 or more, depending on where you get it and what material it’s made from. The biggest factor in price is whether you order through a dentist’s office or go through a direct-to-consumer company that ships an impression kit to your home. Both routes produce a guard molded to your exact teeth, but the price gap between them is significant.
Dentist-Fitted Night Guards
A custom night guard made through a dentist’s office typically runs $300 to $800, though some practices charge over $1,000 for premium hard acrylic splints. That price covers an in-office impression or digital scan of your teeth, fabrication by a dental lab, a fitting appointment, and any adjustments needed to get the bite right. You’re also paying for the dentist’s expertise in evaluating your jaw, checking for signs of TMJ disorder, and recommending the right type of guard for your situation.
The material your dentist recommends will shift the price. A soft guard sits at the lower end of that range, while a hard acrylic splint (the most durable option) pushes toward the higher end because it requires more lab time, milling, and polishing. Dual-laminate guards, which combine a soft inner layer with a harder outer shell, fall somewhere in the middle.
Direct-to-Consumer Night Guards
Online companies have carved out a middle ground between cheap drugstore guards and expensive dental office versions. These services mail you an impression kit, you make the mold at home, send it back, and receive a lab-made custom guard within a few weeks. Prices from major brands cluster between $99 and $169. Remi sells its custom guard for $99, Revived Smiles for $130, Smile Brilliant for $149, and Pro Teeth Guard and Chomper Labs each charge $169.
These guards are made in dental labs using the same types of materials dentists use, so the quality of the physical product is comparable. What you’re not getting is a professional evaluation of your bite, jaw alignment, or the underlying cause of your grinding. For straightforward bruxism, many people find online guards work well. If you have TMJ pain, a complicated bite, or dental work like crowns and bridges, starting with a dentist is worth the extra cost.
Over-the-Counter Guards
Boil-and-bite guards from a drugstore or Walmart range from about $7 to $40. You soften them in hot water, bite down to create a rough impression, and they’re ready to wear. They’re the cheapest option by far, but “custom” is a generous term for what you get. The fit is bulkier and less precise, which makes them uncomfortable enough that many people stop wearing them within weeks.
Over-the-counter guards also wear out faster. A frequently used boil-and-bite guard lasts about one to two years, while a proper custom guard from a dentist lasts two to five years with moderate grinding and five or more years with mild grinding and good care. When you factor in replacements, the annual cost of cheap guards starts closing in on the cost of a single custom one.
How Material Affects Price and Lifespan
The three main materials each come with different price points and replacement timelines, so the upfront cost only tells part of the story.
- Soft (EVA): The least expensive material, but it wears down fastest. Expect a lifespan of 6 to 12 months. Best for light grinders or people who want to try a night guard before investing more.
- Dual-laminate: A hybrid with a soft interior and firmer exterior. Adds roughly $40 to the base price compared to soft guards and lasts 1 to 3 years. A good middle option for moderate grinding.
- Hard acrylic: The most durable and most expensive, adding $150 or more over a soft guard. These last 3 to 5 years or longer and hold up best against heavy clenching and grinding.
If you grind heavily, a $500 hard acrylic guard that lasts five years costs you $100 per year. A $10 boil-and-bite guard replaced every year costs $10 per year on paper, but if it’s too uncomfortable to wear consistently, you’re not actually protecting your teeth.
Insurance and Payment Options
Dental insurance sometimes covers custom night guards, but coverage varies widely by plan. Night guards are billed under specific procedure codes for hard, soft, or partial-arch appliances, and your plan may classify them as a “major” service with a higher copay or a waiting period. Some plans cover 50% after your deductible, others cover nothing. Call your insurer with the specific code your dentist provides to get a straight answer before your appointment.
If your insurance doesn’t help, you can pay for a custom night guard with a flexible spending account (FSA), health savings account (HSA), or health reimbursement arrangement (HRA). The guard qualifies as long as it’s for a medical purpose like bruxism. This effectively lets you pay with pre-tax dollars, saving you 20 to 30% depending on your tax bracket.
The Cost of Not Using One
Night guards feel like an optional expense until you see what untreated grinding does to your teeth over time. Chronic bruxism wears down enamel, cracks teeth, and can eventually require crowns or implants. A single dental implant with a crown runs $1,000 to $3,000, and heavy grinders often damage multiple teeth. A $150 to $500 night guard is a fraction of what restorative dental work costs, and it’s far less painful than a root canal.
The best guard is the one you’ll actually wear. If a $99 online guard fits well and stays in your mouth all night, it’s doing its job. If you need a dentist’s guidance to get the fit and material right, the higher price pays for itself in comfort and consistency. Either way, the investment is small compared to what your teeth are worth.