If you play contact sports, grind your teeth in your sleep, or have a jaw that clicks and aches, you’ve probably wondered what could help. A custom mouth guard is a good place to start.
At Admire Dental Care in Woodbridge, VA, we make guards that fit your teeth and the way you bite. The ones from the drugstore never really fit anyone. They’re bulky, they slide around, and a lot of people give up on them. Dr. Judith Eugene (practicing since 2000) and Dr. Farah Khan shape yours to your mouth, so it stays in place and feels comfortable.
Give us a call at (571) 398-6603 and we’ll get you started.
What Is a Custom Mouth Guard?
It’s a protective guard made for one person: you. We take an exact impression of your teeth and send it to a dental lab, which builds the guard to match. Depending on why you need it, the guard can soften a hit, stop your teeth from grinding together, or take pressure off your jaw.
The big difference is the fit. Boil-and-bite guards are thick and tend to shift. A custom one is thinner and snug, and you can still talk and breathe without much trouble. That’s important, since a guard can’t help if it’s sitting in your gym bag.
Types of Custom Mouth Guards Available in Woodbridge VA
Sports mouth guards. Made for football, basketball, hockey, martial arts, boxing, lacrosse, and pretty much any sport where contact happens. They take the force of an impact and protect your teeth, lips, tongue, and jaw.
Night guards for teeth grinding. Some people clench or grind their teeth while they sleep, which is called bruxism. A night guard sits between your teeth so they don’t wear each other down. It can cut back on jaw pain, headaches, and cracked teeth.
TMJ splints. If your jaw joint hurts, clicks, or gets stiff when you open and close your mouth, a splint can help. It lets your jaw rest in a better spot and eases the strain on the muscles around it.
Anti-snoring appliances. These move your lower jaw forward a little to keep your airway open while you sleep.
Custom Mouth Guards vs Store-Bought: What’s the Difference?
| Feature | Custom Mouth Guard | Store-Bought (Boil-and-Bite) |
| Fit | Made from an exact impression of your teeth | Generic, shaped at home |
| Comfort | Slim and easy to wear | Often bulky, and can make you gag |
| Protection | Top level, made with professional-grade materials | Limited, especially in hard-hitting sports |
| Durability | Lasts for years with good care | Wears out in a few months |
| Speech and breathing | Barely gets in the way | Often makes both harder |
| Cost | More upfront | Cheaper, but you may buy several |
A custom guard costs more at the start. It also lasts longer, fits better, and gets worn, and that’s what matters most.
How We Make Your Custom Mouth Guard
- Consultation. You tell us why you need a guard (sports, grinding, or jaw pain) and we look at your bite.
- Impression. We take an exact mold of your teeth, digital or traditional, in a single visit.
- Lab work. The lab builds your guard from professional-grade materials for your needs.
- Fitting. You come back and try it on. We adjust it until it feels right.
- Care tips. We show you how to clean and store it so it lasts.
Most people need two short visits over 1 to 2 weeks.
How Much Does a Custom Mouth Guard Cost in Woodbridge VA?
The price depends on the kind of guard, the materials, and how complicated your bite is. Here’s what you can expect:
- Custom sports mouth guards: $150 to $300
- Custom night guards for grinding: $300 to $600
- TMJ splints: $400 to $800
Insurance may cover part of it. Night guards for grinding are sometimes partly covered by dental or medical plans, but sports guards usually aren’t. We accept most major insurance plans, and CareCredit financing is available if you’d like to pay over time.
Call (571) 398-6603 and we’ll check your coverage and tell you the exact cost.
Serving Woodbridge and Surrounding Communities
Our Woodbridge office sees patients from Lake Ridge, Dale City, Dumfries, Occoquan, Lorton, Bethel, Montclair, and Manassas.
We also treat a lot of service members and military families from nearby Quantico. If you train or do combatives, a loose drugstore guard won’t hold up. A custom one will stay put.