Introduction
If you're looking for a custom night guard online, you've likely come across both Sentinel Mouthguards and SportingSmiles. Both companies offer dentist-quality custom night guards that are made from impressions of your teeth and delivered directly to your home, often at a fraction of the cost of purchasing one through a dental office.
At first glance, the two companies appear very similar. Both manufacture custom oral appliances in the United States, offer several night guard options for different types of teeth grinding and clenching, and eliminate the need for an in-office dental visit.
However, there are meaningful differences in product selection, manufacturing philosophy, warranties, pricing, digital scan compatibility, and the overall customer experience.
In this guide, we'll compare Sentinel Mouthguards and SportingSmiles side by side so you can better understand which company may be the right choice for your needs.
Editor's Note: This comparison was written by the team at Sentinel Mouthguards and reflects our perspective as a manufacturer of custom night guards. Our goal is to provide an accurate, fair, and helpful comparison based on publicly available information available at the time of writing. Because product offerings, pricing, warranties, and policies may change over time, we encourage readers to verify current information directly with each company's website before making a purchase.
If you're new to custom oral appliances or aren't sure which type of guard is right for your needs, we recommend starting with our Complete Guide to Custom Night Guards, which explains the differences between soft, hard, hybrid, and specialty night guards before comparing individual manufacturers.
Sentinel Mouthguards vs. SportingSmiles at a Glance
Both Sentinel Mouthguards and SportingSmiles offer custom-made dental appliances manufactured in the United States. However, the companies differ in their laboratory credentials, product selection, warranties, digital workflows, and satisfaction policies.
| Feature | Sentinel Mouthguards | SportingSmiles |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2012 | 2009 |
| Manufacturing | Handcrafted in St. Petersburg, Florida | Manufactured in the United States |
| FDA Information | Manufactured in an FDA-registered laboratory | States that it uses FDA-compliant materials |
| At-Home Impression Kit | Included | Included |
| Digital Scan Ordering | Accepts compatible STL and PLY files | Supports digital impressions and offers optional digital impression storage |
| Night Guard Selection | Soft, hard, hybrid, durability, daytime, and specialty guards | Multiple materials, thicknesses, and trimming styles |
| Satisfaction Policy | 100-Day Satisfaction Guarantee | Advertises a 100% satisfaction guarantee |
| Product Warranty | Up to one year, depending on the product | 90-day warranty |
| HSA/FSA Eligible | Yes | Yes |
| Home Delivery | Yes | Yes |
Important distinction: FDA registration and the use of materials described as FDA compliant are not the same as FDA approval of a specific night guard. Information reflects publicly available company statements at the time of publication and may change.
About Sentinel Mouthguards
Founded in 2012, Sentinel Mouthguards manufactures custom night guards from its FDA-registered laboratory in St. Petersburg, Florida. Every appliance is handcrafted using professional dental materials and fabricated specifically for each customer's bite.
Unlike many online companies that focus primarily on one or two guard styles, Sentinel offers multiple options designed for different levels of teeth grinding, jaw clenching, TMJ-related discomfort, daytime clenching, tongue or cheek biting, and orthodontic retention.
Customers may either use a traditional impression kit or upload an existing digital intraoral scan, making the ordering process especially convenient for patients who already have an iTero®, TRIOS®, Medit®, or other compatible digital scan.
About SportingSmiles
SportingSmiles has been manufacturing custom dental appliances since 2009 and offers a broad catalog that includes retainers, whitening trays, sports mouthguards, and several custom night guard designs. The company manufactures its products in the United States and markets itself as a more affordable alternative to dentist-provided appliances. It also offers customers the option to have physical impressions converted into digital files for future reorders.
Product Selection
One of the biggest differences between the two companies is how they organize their product lines.
SportingSmiles offers several custom night guard styles with different thicknesses and trimming options designed for varying levels of grinding and clenching.
Sentinel takes a simpler approach by offering distinct products based on clinical use, making it easier for many customers to select the appropriate appliance.
Sentinel's lineup includes:
- Comfort Guard
- Hard Night Guard (2 mm)
- Hybrid Night Guard
- Durability Guard (3 mm)
- No-Show Day Guard
- Tongue & Cheek Biting Guard
This straightforward product selection may reduce confusion for customers who are unfamiliar with different dental appliance materials.
Choosing the right material is often more important than choosing a specific brand. If you're unsure whether a soft, hard, or hybrid appliance is best for your grinding habits, our guide to soft vs. hard night guard materials explains the advantages and trade-offs of each option in more detail.
Materials & Manufacturing
Both companies manufacture custom appliances in the United States rather than relying on generic boil-and-bite products.
Because both fabricate each appliance from impressions or digital scans of the customer's teeth, the end result is generally more accurate and comfortable than an over-the-counter mouth guard.
Sentinel manufactures every appliance in its FDA-registered laboratory using premium dental materials selected for durability, comfort, and long-term wear. Depending on the product selected, materials are designed specifically for soft cushioning, rigid protection, or a combination of both.
SportingSmiles also states that its products are manufactured using professional dental materials and fabricated in the United States.
Ordering Process
Ordering from either company follows a similar process.
- Select your preferred night guard.
- Receive an at-home impression kit (or submit a digital scan when available).
- Return your impressions.
- Your custom appliance is fabricated.
- Your completed night guard ships directly to your home.
One notable difference is that Sentinel allows customers to upload compatible digital scan files directly during the ordering process, eliminating the need for an impression kit when a recent scan is already available.
SportingSmiles also accepts digital impressions and offers an optional service to digitally archive physical impressions for future reorders.
Pricing
Both companies position themselves as an affordable alternative to dentist-provided night guards.
Dentist-made appliances commonly cost several hundred dollars after examination, impressions, and follow-up appointments.
By manufacturing directly for consumers, both Sentinel Mouthguards and SportingSmiles can typically offer significant savings while still providing custom-fabricated appliances.
Because pricing and promotions change periodically, we recommend checking each company's website for current pricing before ordering.
Warranty & Satisfaction Guarantee
Warranty coverage is an important consideration when purchasing any custom dental appliance.
Sentinel offers a 100-Day Satisfaction Guarantee and product warranties of up to one year, depending on the guard selected.
SportingSmiles offers a 90-day warranty and states that it will work with customers who experience issues with fit or quality through remakes, replacements, or refunds when appropriate. The company also outlines specific procedures for warranty claims and impression verification.
Digital Scan Compatibility
Digital dentistry continues to grow rapidly, making scan compatibility increasingly important.
Sentinel accepts compatible digital scans—including common STL and PLY formats—allowing many customers to skip traditional impressions entirely.
SportingSmiles also supports digital workflows and offers customers the option to keep digital scans of their impressions on file for future reorders.
Which Company Should You Choose?
Choose Sentinel Mouthguards if you:
- Want to upload an existing digital scan instead of taking impressions.
- Prefer a 100-Day Satisfaction Guarantee.
- Want products handcrafted in an FDA-registered Florida laboratory.
- Appreciate a simplified product lineup that's easy to understand.
- Need specialty products such as the No-Show Day Guard or Tongue & Cheek Biting Guard.
SportingSmiles may be a good fit if you:
- Prefer its broader catalog of dental products beyond night guards.
- Want the option to have impressions digitally archived for future reorders.
- Are already a SportingSmiles customer and plan to reorder using an existing file.
Final Verdict
Both Sentinel Mouthguards and SportingSmiles provide legitimate custom night guards that offer substantially better protection and comfort than most over-the-counter boil-and-bite mouth guards.
For many buyers, the decision comes down to personal priorities.
If you're looking for a straightforward ordering process, support for modern digital dental scans, specialty appliance options, and a generous satisfaction guarantee, Sentinel Mouthguards offers an excellent combination of convenience, craftsmanship, and value.
If you're already familiar with SportingSmiles or want access to its extensive catalog of dental products, it remains a well-established option in the online custom night guard market.
Whichever company you choose, investing in a professionally made custom night guard is generally one of the best ways to protect your teeth from the long-term effects of grinding and clenching.
Continue Your Research
It would include:
- 📘 Complete Guide to Custom Night Guards
- 🦷 Soft vs. Hard Night Guards
- 💰 Why Are Custom Night Guards So Expensive?
- 📱 Order with an iTero Digital Scan
- ⚖️ Compare Sentinel vs. Remi
- ⚖️ Compare Sentinel vs. Pro Teeth Guard
- ⚖️ Compare Sentinel vs. Chomper Labs (coming next)