Dentist night guard cost guide
Updated September 1, 2026 with current U.S. pricing data and Sentinel pricing.
Medically reviewed by Greg Grillo, DDS.
A custom night guard from a dentist commonly costs several hundred dollars. The exact price depends on the dental practice, where you live, the type of appliance prescribed and which clinical services are included in the fee.
Quick answer: Published U.S. estimates vary. CareCredit reports dentist-made mouth guards averaging roughly $300–$500, with some dental offices charging $1,000 or more. Its broader current bruxism-treatment data places mouth guards in an approximate $250–$975 range. Your actual quote may fall outside these figures.
How much does a custom night guard from the dentist cost?
There is no single nationwide dentist price for a night guard. A quote can vary substantially based on location, appliance design, dental practice fees and the professional care included.
These figures are general U.S. estimates, not a fee schedule. A dental office should be able to explain what is included in your individual quote.
What does the dentist's night guard fee include?
When a dentist quotes several hundred dollars for a night guard, you are usually not paying only for the finished piece of material.
Depending on the practice and your situation, the fee may include some or all of the following:
The dentist may evaluate tooth wear, restorations, bite relationships, gum health and symptoms before recommending an appliance.
A physical impression or intraoral scan is used to record the shape of the teeth for custom fabrication.
The dentist determines what type of appliance, material, thickness or design is appropriate for the patient.
The appliance may be produced in-house or sent to a dental laboratory for fabrication and finishing.
The dentist may evaluate retention, coverage, comfort and how the appliance contacts the opposing teeth.
Some quoted fees include subsequent polishing, pressure relief, bite adjustments or additional visits.
This distinction is important when comparing a dentist quote with the price of a direct-to-consumer custom guard: the two prices may include different levels of clinical service.
A separate question
Why can night guards be so expensive?
Dentist pricing reflects a combination of professional services, laboratory fabrication, staffing, equipment and the economics of operating a dental practice.
Rather than duplicate that entire subject here, we've broken it out separately: Why Are Night Guards So Expensive? →
Dentist night guard cost vs. online custom guard cost
Both dentist-provided and reputable direct-to-consumer custom guards can be fabricated from an individual model of a person's teeth, but the service models are different.
| Feature | Dentist-provided custom guard | Direct-to-consumer custom guard |
|---|---|---|
| Typical price | Usually several hundred dollars; published estimates vary widely | Often lower because in-office clinical services are not included |
| Dental record | In-office impression or digital scan | Usually an at-home impression; some providers accept compatible digital scans |
| Clinical examination | Available through the treating dentist | Not included |
| Custom fabrication | Yes | Yes, when individually made from the customer's dental model |
| Chairside adjustments | May be available | Not available; fit support and remake policies vary by provider |
| Clinical follow-up | May be included or available through the practice | Not included |
Neither price alone nor the word custom tells you everything about an appliance. Material, design, fabrication, fit support and the need for professional dental care all matter.
How much do Sentinel custom night guards cost?
Sentinel uses a direct laboratory model rather than bundling the appliance with dental-office visits. Current custom night guard prices range from $165 to $235.
| Sentinel guard | Material / thickness | Current price |
|---|---|---|
| Comfort Guard | 2 mm soft EVA | $165 |
| Hybrid Guard | 2 mm soft EVA inner layer + copolyester outer layer | $190 |
| Hard Guard | 2 mm rigid copolyester | $215 |
| Durability Guard | 3 mm rigid copolyester | $235 |
Each is individually fabricated from a dental impression or accepted digital dental scan. Current pricing can be confirmed on the Sentinel Night Guard collection →
Is an online custom night guard the same as one from a dentist?
Not necessarily.
Both routes may involve making an appliance from an individual model of the teeth, and both may use professional dental-appliance materials. But the prescribing process, appliance design, clinical examination, bite evaluation, fitting and follow-up can differ.
A direct-to-consumer laboratory should therefore not be described as universally providing the same service as a dentist simply because both appliances are custom fabricated.
The most useful comparison is not “dentist quality vs. online quality.” It is: What appliance am I receiving, how is it made, what support is included, and do I need in-person dental evaluation or management?
When might the additional dentist cost be worthwhile?
The added cost of dental-office care may be particularly valuable when the central issue is not simply obtaining a protective barrier for the teeth.
Consider starting with a dentist if you have unresolved or significant dental or jaw symptoms, a sudden bite change, jaw locking, loose or painful teeth, untreated dental disease, extensive restorative work, or uncertainty about whether a night guard is appropriate.
A night guard can protect the teeth from direct contact and wear, but it does not diagnose the reason for grinding or clenching and it is not a treatment for every cause of jaw pain.
What about a $700 dentist night guard?
A $700 quote falls within the range consumers commonly encounter for custom dental appliances, but the number alone does not tell you whether the fee is reasonable for your situation.
Ask the dental office exactly what the quoted price includes:
- Is the dental examination included in this fee?
- Does the price include the impression or digital scan?
- What type of appliance and material is being prescribed?
- Is laboratory fabrication included?
- Does the price include the delivery/fitting appointment?
- Are bite adjustments included?
- Are follow-up visits included?
- What happens if the appliance needs to be remade?
- Is any portion expected to be covered by dental insurance?
Two offices can quote different prices while including different amounts of professional care. Comparing the full service is more useful than comparing only the final dollar amount.
Does dental insurance cover a dentist night guard?
Some dental plans provide benefits for occlusal guards, while others exclude them or apply deductibles, coinsurance, documentation requirements, provider restrictions or replacement-frequency limits.
Because this subject varies significantly by plan, we keep the full explanation on our dedicated guide: Will Dental Insurance Cover a Night Guard? →
If your insurer asks for a CDT procedure code, see: Night Guard Dental Codes: D9944, D9945 & D9946 →
Can HSA or FSA funds help with the cost?
A qualifying night guard expense may be eligible for payment with HSA or FSA funds. HSA/FSA eligibility is separate from dental insurance coverage.
See our dedicated guide for the eligibility and payment details: Are Night Guards HSA/FSA Eligible? →
How does dentist cost compare with every other type of night guard?
This page deliberately focuses on the dental-office route.
For the broader comparison—including stock OTC, boil-and-bite, mail-in custom, Sentinel and dentist pricing—see our main Night Guard Cost Guide →
Watch: Why does a dentist charge $700 for a night guard?
This video provides a visual look at some of the clinical and fabrication costs that can be included in a dental-office fee.
Dentist night guard cost FAQs
How much does a night guard from the dentist cost?
Dentist night guard prices vary substantially. CareCredit publishes an average dentist-made mouthguard range around $300–$500 and notes that some offices charge $1,000 or more. Its broader current bruxism-treatment data reports a mouthguard range of approximately $250–$975.
Is $700 expensive for a dentist night guard?
$700 is higher than some published average estimates but falls within the broader range consumers may encounter. Whether the fee represents good value depends partly on the appliance and professional services included.
Why does a dentist night guard cost more than an online custom guard?
A dentist's fee may include examination, professional judgment, records, appliance selection, fitting, adjustments and follow-up in addition to fabrication. A direct-to-consumer custom price does not include the same in-person clinical service.
How much does a custom night guard cost without insurance?
Without insurance, the patient generally pays the provider's full fee. Dentist prices commonly run several hundred dollars, although the exact amount varies by office, location, appliance and included services.
Does a more expensive night guard use a better material?
Not necessarily. Price alone does not identify the material, thickness, fabrication method or clinical design. A higher dental-office fee may reflect professional services as well as the appliance.
Can I get a custom night guard without going to a dentist?
Yes. Direct-to-consumer laboratories can fabricate custom appliances from an at-home dental impression, and some—including Sentinel—also accept compatible digital dental scans. This route does not include an in-person dental examination.
How much do Sentinel night guards cost?
As of September 2026, Sentinel's four core custom night guards range from $165 for the Comfort Guard to $235 for the Durability Guard.
Sentinel Mouthguards
Compare custom night guards from $165
Sentinel fabricates custom night guards directly from an at-home dental impression or accepted digital dental scan. Compare material, thickness and current pricing across all four designs.
Compare Sentinel Night Guards →Sources & pricing notes
- CareCredit — Mouth Guard Benefits for Teeth Grinding
- CareCredit — Bruxism: What Causes Teeth Grinding and How It's Treated
- Sentinel Mouthguards — current custom night guard pricing
Published cost figures are educational estimates and do not predict the fee charged by an individual dentist. Prices vary by provider, location, appliance and services included. Sentinel prices were checked September 1, 2026. This article is educational and is not medical, insurance or tax advice.