The price of a custom nightguard at Vuković Dental Clinic is 120€, including impressions, laboratory fabrication and fitting. A nightguard, also known as an occlusal splint or bite guard, is individually made from impressions of your jaw and designed to protect your teeth from the effects of grinding and clenching, most commonly during sleep.
A nightguard for bruxism is a thin, transparent splint that fits snugly over all tooth surfaces and absorbs part of the pressure generated during grinding and clenching. It effectively creates a barrier between the upper and lower jaws, preventing direct tooth-to-tooth contact and slowing down further wear of the tooth structure and soft tissues of the oral cavity.
Ready-made guards are available in pharmacies and shaped at home by softening in hot water ("boil and bite"). The key differences compared to a custom-made guard are precision of fit and material:
| Custom-made nightguard | Over-the-counter guard (pharmacy) | |
|---|---|---|
| Fit | Precise, based on individual impressions of the patient's jaw | Approximate, uniform mould for all patients |
| Material | Acrylic (hard) or EVA (soft), selected according to the severity of grinding — a harder material distributes higher clenching forces without breaking down quickly | Thermoplastic EVA material, single thickness, identical for all patients regardless of grinding intensity |
| Durability | Retains shape and function for longer | Deforms more quickly |
| Comfort | Custom fit — stays in place throughout the night | May shift or irritate the gums |
A poorly fitting guard does not distribute pressure evenly, and in some cases may actually increase the load on certain teeth rather than reducing it, or cause damage to the soft tissues of the oral cavity.
Nightguards differ in material and firmness, depending on the severity of bruxism:
The most wear-resistant option, recommended for severe or intense grinding.
More comfortable to wear, typically used for milder cases or as a temporary solution.
Hard outer layer with a softer inner lining — combines durability with comfort.
A nightguard is recommended for patients who:
Whether a nightguard is the right solution — and whether an underlying cause needs to be addressed — is determined at the examination.
In patients where bruxism is significantly driven by a malocclusion, a nightguard reduces the consequences of grinding but does not resolve the underlying misalignment. In these cases, orthodontic treatment may be considered alongside or instead of the guard as a longer-term solution.
| Nightguard for bruxism | 120 € |
The price includes jaw impressions, laboratory fabrication and the fitting appointment. The final price is confirmed at the examination, before treatment begins.
The dentist evaluates the severity of bruxism based on wear patterns and the condition of the jaw joint, and determines whether a nightguard is the appropriate treatment or whether further diagnostics are needed. Selecting the right thickness and material — ranging from very soft to very hard — is essential. An accurate assessment requires an examination by a specialist in orthodontics or periodontology.
Impressions of the upper and/or lower jaw are taken, depending on the treatment plan.
The nightguard is custom-made from the impressions, in the material selected according to grinding severity.
At the follow-up appointment the fit is checked and any minor adjustments are made before the guard is handed over.
The nightguard is typically worn every night, for as long as protection is needed. After removing it each morning, we recommend:
In patients with pronounced hyperactivity of the chewing muscles, Botox for bruxism may be considered as a complement or alternative to a nightguard. Unlike a guard — which mechanically protects the teeth — Botox reduces the actual force of clenching by relaxing the masseter muscle (musculus masseter). Which option is appropriate for your situation is determined at a specialist consultation.
Book an appointment at Vuković Dental Clinic — we will assess the severity of grinding and recommend the right protection for your teeth.
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