A night guard can cost anywhere from $20 for a basic store-bought option to $800 or more for a custom appliance from your dentist. Where you fall in that range depends on the type of guard, the material it’s made from, and whether you go through a dentist, a mail-order company, or your local pharmacy.
Over-the-Counter Night Guards: $19 to $35
The cheapest option is a ready-made or boil-and-bite guard from a drugstore or online retailer. Most popular brands fall between $19 and $35. The Oral-B Nighttime Dental Guard runs about $19, DenTek’s boil-and-bite models range from $20 to $33, and multi-pack options like The ConfiDental Moldable Mouth Guards cost around $30. These guards use a soft, flexible material (usually EVA plastic) that you soften in hot water, then bite into to create a rough impression of your teeth.
The fit is decent but not precise. Boil-and-bite guards tend to be bulkier than custom options, which can make them uncomfortable to sleep in. They also wear out faster, typically lasting 6 to 12 months before they lose their shape or develop thin spots from grinding. If you’re a heavy grinder, you might go through three or four of these per year, which adds up to $60 to $140 annually.
Mail-Order Custom Guards: $99 to $200
Mail-order companies sit in the middle ground between drugstore guards and a full dental visit. Companies like Remi sell custom night guards starting at $99. You receive an impression kit at home, make molds of your teeth using dental putty, and mail them back. The company fabricates a guard from your molds and ships it to you.
These guards fit better than boil-and-bite versions because they’re made from an actual impression of your teeth, similar to what a dentist would take. Some companies also offer subscription plans that send a replacement guard every six months at a discounted price, which can help if you grind heavily and wear through guards quickly. The materials are generally comparable to what a dental office uses for basic guards, though you don’t get the in-person adjustment that a dentist provides.
Custom Guards From Your Dentist: $300 to $800
A dentist-made night guard is the most expensive option but also the most precise. Prices typically range from $300 to $800, depending on the material, the complexity of your bite, and your location. The process starts with a detailed impression or digital scan of your teeth. That data goes to a dental lab, which fabricates the guard to match your bite exactly. Your dentist then adjusts the fit at a follow-up appointment, checking that your jaw sits in the right position when you wear it.
For straightforward teeth grinding (bruxism), a standard custom guard on the lower end of that range is usually sufficient. If you have TMJ issues, your dentist may recommend a therapeutic splint instead, which is designed to reposition your jaw and relieve joint pain. These specialized appliances tend to land at the higher end, $500 to $800 or more, because they require more precise customization and sometimes multiple adjustment visits.
How Material Affects Price and Lifespan
Night guards come in three main materials, and the one you choose has a big impact on both upfront cost and how often you’ll need a replacement.
- Soft EVA: The least expensive material, used in most drugstore guards and some mail-order options. Comfortable but wears down in 6 to 12 months, especially for heavy grinders.
- Dual-laminate (hybrid): Soft on the inside for comfort, hard on the outside for durability. Adds roughly $40 to the cost compared to soft guards and lasts 1 to 3 years.
- Hard acrylic: The most durable option, lasting 3 to 5 years or longer. Adds $150 or more because of the extra milling and polishing required. This is the material most dentists use for custom guards.
When you compare long-term costs, the math often favors spending more upfront. A $20 soft guard replaced every 8 months costs roughly $30 per year. A $500 hard acrylic custom guard that lasts 5 years works out to $100 per year, but it protects your teeth far more effectively. If you’re grinding hard enough to crack fillings or wear down enamel, the dental work you avoid can easily justify the higher price.
Does Insurance Cover Night Guards?
Many dental insurance plans cover part of the cost of a custom night guard, but coverage varies widely. Some plans classify it as a preventive appliance and cover 50% to 80% after your deductible. Others don’t cover it at all, or only cover one guard every few years. It’s worth calling your insurance company before your appointment to find out what they’ll pay.
If your plan doesn’t cover night guards or you have a high deductible, you can use a Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA) to pay for one. The IRS specifically lists occlusal guards for teeth grinding as a qualified medical expense, so you can use pre-tax dollars regardless of whether your dental plan covers the device. On a $500 guard, that tax savings could effectively reduce your cost by $100 to $150 depending on your tax bracket.
Choosing the Right Option for Your Budget
If you’re not sure whether you grind your teeth or you want to try a guard before committing to a custom one, a $20 to $30 boil-and-bite guard is a reasonable starting point. It won’t fit perfectly, but it will protect your teeth while you decide if a night guard works for you.
If you already know you grind and want better comfort without the full dental office price, a mail-order custom guard around $99 gives you a noticeably better fit. For severe grinding, TMJ pain, or existing dental work like crowns and veneers that you need to protect, a dentist-made guard is worth the investment. The precise fit distributes bite forces more evenly, and your dentist can catch bite problems that a mail-order company or drugstore product can’t address.