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Protect your smile from grinding, clenching, and sports injuries with custom-fitted solutions from Gordon Dental Implants & Cosmetics. Dr. Philip Gordon designs personalized night guards in Leawood, KS , helping individuals across Overland Park, Prairie Village, and the Kansas City metro safeguard their oral health at our Leawood, Kansas office.
Bruxism is the clinical term for grinding or clenching the teeth, most commonly during sleep. Many patients are unaware they do it until symptoms become noticeable or a dental exam reveals wear patterns on the teeth.
Common signs include:
Dr. Gordon checks for signs of bruxism at every routine exam. If wear patterns are identified, a custom guard is one of the most effective protective measures available.
A teeth grinding treatment in Leawood helps prevent the cumulative damage that bruxism causes over time. A custom guard creates a protective barrier between the upper and lower teeth, absorbing and redistributing bite forces so the teeth and restorations bear less impact.
This protection is especially important for patients who have existing dental work:
Grinding can chip or fracture veneers at the edges, where the porcelain is thinnest. A custom guard is strongly recommended for veneer patients. Learn more about porcelain veneers.
Repeated grinding forces can loosen or crack dental crowns over time, leading to premature replacement.
Enamel cannot grow back once worn down. Preventing wear now avoids more involved restoration later.
For patients with severe, long-term wear affecting multiple teeth, full mouth reconstruction may eventually be part of the conversation, but a custom guard is always the first protective step.
| Feature | Custom Guard | Over-the-Counter Guard |
|---|---|---|
| Fit | Made from a precise impression of your teeth | Generic, one-size-fits-most |
| Comfort | Trim fit, stays in place throughout the night | Often loose, bulky, or uncomfortable |
| Durability | Typically 2-5 years | 6 months to 1 year |
| Protection | Distributes bite forces accurately across your bite | Inconsistent coverage |
| Dental review | Thickness and material selected by Dr. Gordon | No clinical evaluation |
| Cost | Higher upfront | Lower upfront, replaced more often |
Store-bought guards are made from generic molds and often do not stay in place. Patients frequently abandon them within weeks. A custom guard from Gordon Dental is adjusted to your specific bite so it remains comfortable throughout the night.
Getting a custom guard from Gordon Dental involves two appointments.
At the first appointment, Dr. Gordon takes an impression or digital scan of your teeth. This is sent to a dental lab where your guard is fabricated to the precise dimensions of your bite.
At the second appointment, we fit the finished guard and make adjustments as needed. Most patients require only minor adjustments at delivery.
A custom sports mouthguard protects your teeth, jaw, and soft tissue during contact sports and recreational activities. Athletes throughout Johnson County who play football, basketball, hockey, and rugby benefit from a guard that fits precisely and stays in place during impact.
Over-the-counter boil-and-bite guards provide basic protection but often don’t fit securely enough to stay in place during hard contact. A custom sports mouthguard from Gordon Dental is made from an impression of your teeth, allowing you to breathe and speak clearly while wearing it.
Dr. Gordon discusses thickness and material options based on your sport and level of contact.
Proper care extends the life of your custom guard and keeps it hygienic.
Most custom guards last two to five years depending on the severity of grinding.
Gordon Dental Implants & Cosmetics is located at 3628 W 95th Street in Leawood, Kansas, providing custom guards and mouthguards for patients from Overland Park, Prairie Village, and the wider Kansas City metro.
Protecting Your Investment: Custom guards are especially important for patients with general dentistry restorations such as crowns, veneers, and implants, where repair or replacement due to grinding damage is costly.
Custom Fit Every Time: Each guard is made from a precise scan or impression, not a generic mold.
Book Online or Call: Schedule at gordondentalimplantsandcosmetics.com or call (913) 649-5017
Many patients who grind their teeth develop damage gradually without realizing it. Enamel and restorations wear down over time. If Dr. Gordon finds wear patterns at your exam, a custom guard is a straightforward protective step that avoids more involved treatment later.
A custom guard typically lasts two to five years, depending on how severely you grind and how well you maintain it. Patients who grind heavily may wear through one sooner. Dr. Gordon checks your guard’s condition at routine visits and will advise when it is time to replace it.
Yes. This is one of the main reasons veneer and crown patients should wear one. Grinding forces can fracture the porcelain at the edges of veneers and crack or loosen crowns over time. A custom-fitted guard distributes those forces across the guard material instead of concentrating them on the restorations.
For most patients, yes. A custom guard is made from an impression of your teeth, creating a fit that stays in place without interfering with breathing or sleep. Store-bought guards are generic and frequently abandoned because of poor fit. A custom guard is also more durable, making it more cost-effective over time.
Coverage varies widely by dental insurance plan. Some plans cover them as a necessary appliance for documented bruxism, while others classify them as elective. The office team can help you check your coverage before your appointment. Visit our general dentistry page for more information about services at Gordon Dental.
Protect your teeth, veneers, and crowns from the long-term effects of grinding with a custom-fitted guard at Gordon Dental Implants & Cosmetics. Dr. Philip Gordon serves patients from Leawood, Overland Park, and across the Kansas City metro.
