Updated September 6, 2026
Sentinel Mouthguards and JS Dental Lab are two established U.S.-based companies selling laboratory-made custom night guards directly to consumers. At first glance, their models look very similar: order online, take an impression at home, send it to the laboratory, and receive a guard made for your teeth.
Look more closely, however, and meaningful differences appear in how the guards are finished, how clearly their materials are identified, whether an existing digital dental scan can be used, published production times, product selection and the structure of each company's satisfaction policy.
This comparison looks at those differences without declaring that one company is automatically right for every customer.
Sentinel Mouthguards vs. JS Dental Lab at a glance
| Feature | Sentinel Mouthguards | JS Dental Lab |
|---|---|---|
| Custom fabrication | Yes | Yes |
| U.S. laboratory fabrication | St. Petersburg, Florida | Yes; JS states its guards are made in the USA |
| At-home impression kit | Yes | Yes |
| Existing digital dental scan | Yes — qualifying STL and PLY files accepted | No comparable customer-facing digital scan upload workflow was located at the time of review |
| Finishing process | Every guard is hand-trimmed, polished and contoured by Sentinel technicians; borders are scalloped to follow the individual dental anatomy | JS describes its guards as hand-crafted and discusses technician trimming and polishing when adjustments are needed |
| Material transparency | Material and thickness are mapped directly to each core guard; Sentinel also publishes a detailed material exclusion list | JS identifies PETG, EVA and TPU across its educational materials, although some individual product pages describe material more generally |
| Published laboratory timeline | Typically 3–5 business days after an acceptable impression or scan is received | Published JS pages currently vary: its homepage states 5–7 business days, while its FAQ states approximately 10 business days for fabrication and quality check |
| Satisfaction period | 100 days from receiving the finished guard | 12-month / 365-day satisfaction policy |
| Fit support | Defined three-attempt process using adjustments, remakes and one complimentary replacement impression kit when appropriate | Adjustments, remakes and other solutions are offered under the company's satisfaction policy |
| Product warranty | Product-specific warranties of 6 months or 1 year depending on guard | 12-month durability guarantee |
| Initial advertised pricing | Generally higher on several comparable guard categories | Generally lower on several current guard designs |
The table illustrates why there is no single obvious winner. JS currently has an advantage in the length of its satisfaction period and often in initial advertised price. Sentinel places more emphasis on fabrication details, digital-scan access, product-level material disclosure and a defined fit-resolution workflow.
About Sentinel Mouthguards
Sentinel Mouthguards was founded in 2012 and fabricates custom oral appliances in its St. Petersburg, Florida laboratory.
Customers can create an at-home dental impression or, when they already have a compatible professional dental scan, submit a qualifying STL or PLY file for laboratory review.
Sentinel's core night guard lineup includes soft EVA, rigid copolyester and hybrid constructions in different thicknesses, along with a separate daytime clenching design.
About JS Dental Lab
JS Dental Lab is another long-established direct-to-consumer dental laboratory. The company states that it has been crafting dental products for more than 20 years and manufactures its custom night guards in the United States.
JS offers an at-home impression workflow and several different night guard constructions, including soft, hybrid, rigid, semi-rigid and bite-calibrated designs.
A major Sentinel difference: hand finishing and scalloped borders
Custom fabrication is about more than forming plastic over a model of the teeth.
Once a Sentinel guard is formed, a dental technician individually trims and polishes it. Sentinel also scallops the borders of the appliance so the finished edge follows the contours of the teeth and gumline rather than leaving unnecessary material in a straight, uniform border.
The result is a cleaner, more tailored appearance and a guard whose final outline is intentionally shaped around that customer's dental anatomy.
This finishing step should not be confused with the initial dental impression: the impression creates the model, while trimming, scalloping and polishing determine the final borders and finish of the appliance.
JS Dental Lab also describes its products as hand-crafted, and its educational material discusses trimming and polishing when guards require adjustment. We therefore would not suggest that JS guards receive no technician finishing.
The distinction is that Sentinel explicitly documents hand-trimming, polishing and individualized contouring as part of its standard finishing process and shows customers what that work looks like inside the lab.
See more of the process in How a Custom Night Guard Is Made .
Material transparency
Both companies disclose meaningful information about the materials used in their night guards, but Sentinel provides more direct product-by-product specificity.
Sentinel material disclosure
Sentinel identifies the construction and thickness of each core night guard:
- Comfort Guard — 2 mm soft EVA
- Hybrid Guard — soft EVA inner layer with a rigid copolyester outer layer
- Hard Guard — 2 mm rigid copolyester
- Durability Guard — 3 mm rigid copolyester
Sentinel also publishes a material exclusion list for its current night guard materials, including BPA, BPS, MMA, PVC, phthalates, latex and silicone.
See the full Sentinel Materials & Safety information .
JS Dental Lab material disclosure
JS Dental Lab identifies PETG, EVA and TPU as material families used across its night guard lineup and states that its night guard materials are free from several common substances, including BPA, phthalates and latex.
Some JS product and educational pages identify the material relatively specifically. Other individual product pages use broader descriptions such as hard, soft, semi-hard or “material from Germany” without naming the underlying polymer on that page.
JS is therefore not lacking material disclosure. The difference is how consistently the material is mapped to the individual product. Sentinel makes the polymer construction and thickness part of the core product description for each primary night guard.
If material is the primary factor in your decision, read our Soft vs. Hard Night Guard Materials guide .
Digital scans vs. at-home impressions
Both companies provide an at-home impression route.
Sentinel adds another option for customers who already have a qualifying professional intraoral scan.
Sentinel accepts compatible STL and PLY digital dental files. When the scan is current, complete and contains the anatomy required for fabrication, the customer can bypass another physical impression.
Submitted scans are reviewed before manufacturing begins.
Learn more in How to Buy a Custom Night Guard With a Digital Dental Scan .
At the time this comparison was updated, we could not locate a comparable customer-facing STL or PLY submission workflow on JS Dental Lab's website. JS's publicly described standard process centers on its at-home impression kit.
This should not be interpreted as proof that JS could never work with another type of dental record. It simply means a comparable public digital-scan ordering pathway was not available for us to verify.
Turnaround time
Sentinel typically fabricates a custom night guard within 3–5 business days after receiving and approving the dental impression or compatible digital scan.
Expedited laboratory production is also available when a shorter manufacturing timeline is needed.
JS Dental Lab currently publishes more than one timeline. Its main website describes receiving the finished guard in approximately 5–7 business days, while its FAQ says fabrication and quality control typically take about 10 business days after the impression is received.
Because those published estimates differ, customers for whom speed is particularly important may want to confirm JS's current production timing before ordering.
Product selection
Both laboratories provide significantly more choice than a one-size-fits-all night guard.
Sentinel night guards
- Comfort Guard — soft EVA
- Hybrid Guard — soft interior / rigid exterior
- Hard Guard — 2 mm rigid copolyester
- Durability Guard — 3 mm rigid copolyester
- No-Show Day Guard — daytime clenching design
JS Dental Lab night guards
- Soft Night Guard
- Hybrid Shield
- Hard Shield
- Flex Armor
- Premium 3D Night Guard
- Daytime Guard
The designs are not direct equivalents, so matching products based only on a name such as “hard” or “hybrid” can be misleading. Compare the actual material, thickness and fabrication details for the individual guard.
Pricing
JS Dental Lab currently lists several guards at lower initial prices than comparable Sentinel options.
That is a legitimate advantage for customers whose primary consideration is upfront price.
The purchase price, however, is only one part of a custom appliance. Material, thickness, border finishing, impression or digital-scan requirements, turnaround time, fit support and warranty structure may also affect the value of the purchase.
For more context, see Why Are Custom Night Guards So Expensive? .
Satisfaction guarantees: the details matter
JS Dental Lab currently advertises the longer satisfaction period. Sentinel, however, structures its guarantee differently, so comparing only “365 days versus 100 days” misses some useful details.
Sentinel Mouthguards
Sentinel's 100-Day Satisfaction Guarantee begins when the customer receives the finished guard.
Within that period, a customer may request a refund for any reason. Refunds are subject to the standard $23 impression-kit and shipping deduction.
Fit issues can also enter Sentinel's defined Three-Attempt Fit Resolution process. Depending on the issue, the three attempts may consist of:
- adjustments
- remakes
- one complimentary replacement impression kit
Approved adjustment shipping and handling are covered by Sentinel. If the fit issue remains unresolved after three attempts, Sentinel's policy provides for a refund less the standard $23 deduction.
Product warranties are separate from the satisfaction guarantee:
- 1 year — Hard, Hybrid and Durability Night Guards
- 6 months — Comfort and No-Show Day Guards
See the current Sentinel return and warranty policy .
JS Dental Lab
JS Dental Lab currently calls its standard policy the 12/12 Promise.
The company advertises a 12-month satisfaction guarantee and a separate 12-month durability guarantee. Its FAQ also describes a 365-day free return policy and free adjustments for a year.
When a guard does not fit, feel or work as intended, JS says it may provide adjustments, remakes or another appropriate solution. If it ultimately cannot resolve the issue, its formal policy provides for a full refund.
One small distinction is worth noting: JS's published pages use language such as “12 months,” “365 days” and “a full year after your purchase,” but do not clearly and consistently state that the clock begins on the date the finished night guard is delivered.
Sentinel's published 100-day period, by contrast, explicitly runs from receipt of the finished guard.
JS also offers optional product insurance for certain types of accidental loss, damage and additional coverage.
Which company may be the better fit?
Sentinel may be especially appealing if you:
- already have an STL or PLY dental scan and want to avoid taking another impression
- want a published standard laboratory timeline of 3–5 business days
- value a guard that is individually hand-trimmed, polished and scalloped around your dental anatomy
- want the material and thickness clearly identified for the specific guard you are purchasing
- prefer a defined three-attempt process when a fit problem occurs
- want your appliance fabricated and finished in Sentinel's St. Petersburg, Florida laboratory
JS Dental Lab may be especially appealing if you:
- prioritize the lowest initial price between the two providers
- place a high value on a 12-month satisfaction period
- want its specific Flex Armor or Premium 3D designs
- are comfortable using an at-home impression workflow
- want the option to purchase separate product insurance
These are purchasing differences—not evidence that one laboratory can guarantee a more comfortable appliance for every mouth.
Frequently asked questions
Which company has the longer satisfaction guarantee?
JS Dental Lab currently advertises the longer period at 12 months or 365 days. Sentinel's satisfaction period is 100 days from receipt of the finished guard.
Which company is more transparent about its night guard materials?
Both publish material information. JS identifies PETG, EVA and TPU across its site. Sentinel more consistently maps the specific material and thickness directly to each core guard and publishes a broader exclusion list for its current night guard materials.
Are Sentinel guards hand-finished?
Yes. Each Sentinel guard is individually trimmed and polished by a dental technician. Sentinel also scallops the borders to contour the finished appliance around the customer's dental anatomy.
Does JS Dental Lab hand-finish its guards?
JS describes its guards as hand-crafted and has published information about technicians trimming and polishing appliances during the adjustment process. We would therefore not characterize JS guards as purely machine-finished.
Can I use a digital dental scan with Sentinel?
Yes. Sentinel accepts qualifying STL and PLY files from compatible professional dental scans. Submitted files are reviewed before fabrication.
Does JS Dental Lab accept STL or PLY scans?
We could not locate a publicly advertised customer scan-upload workflow on JS Dental Lab's current website. A customer who wants to use an existing scan should ask JS directly before purchasing.
Which company is faster?
Sentinel currently publishes a standard laboratory production timeline of approximately 3–5 business days after an acceptable impression or scan is received. JS currently publishes differing estimates on different pages, including 5–7 business days on its homepage and approximately 10 business days for fabrication and quality check in its FAQ.
Which company is less expensive?
JS currently lists several standard night guard options at lower initial prices than Sentinel. Price should be compared together with material, thickness, fabrication, fit support and warranty terms.
Our conclusion
Both Sentinel Mouthguards and JS Dental Lab are legitimate direct-to-consumer options for a laboratory-made custom night guard.
JS Dental Lab's strongest advantages are easy to identify: it currently offers a long 12-month satisfaction policy and lower advertised pricing on several guard designs.
Sentinel's differences are found more in the fabrication and ordering experience: qualifying digital scans can replace another physical impression, the core material and thickness are explicitly identified for each guard, standard laboratory production is published at 3–5 business days, and each finished appliance is individually trimmed, polished and scalloped by the laboratory team.
That last step matters to Sentinel's approach. A custom appliance is not simply a sheet of material formed over a model. The final contour, border and finish are part of the product the customer ultimately wears.
Customers choosing primarily on price or length of guarantee may find JS especially attractive. Customers who prioritize digital-scan convenience, faster published laboratory production, product-level material transparency and detailed hand finishing may find Sentinel the stronger fit.
If you're still deciding which guard construction is appropriate for you, continue with our Complete Night Guard Buyer's Guide .
Continue your research
- Complete Guide to Custom Night Guards
- How a Custom Night Guard Is Made
- Soft vs. Hard Night Guard Materials
- Why Are Custom Night Guards More Expensive?
- Buy a Custom Night Guard With a Digital Scan
- Do Night Guards Really Help With TMJ?
- How to Clean Your Night Guard
- How Long Do Night Guards Last?
Sources
JS Dental Lab public product pages, FAQ, return policy, product insurance information and educational materials, reviewed September 2026.
Sentinel Mouthguards product pages, Materials & Safety information, digital-scan documentation, fabrication information and Returns, Exchanges & Satisfaction Guarantee, reviewed September 2026.
Editor's note: Updated September 6, 2026. Sentinel Mouthguards publishes this comparison and is one of the companies discussed. We have attempted to represent JS Dental Lab's current products and policies accurately using publicly available company information. Sentinel has not purchased or tested a JS Dental Lab night guard. Products, prices, timelines and policies may change after publication.
Night guards are intended primarily to help protect teeth from the effects of grinding and clenching. This article provides general educational information and is not a substitute for individualized dental or medical care.