A night guard is a slim, custom-made guard you wear over your teeth while you sleep. If you grind or clench at night, it takes the wear instead of your teeth and eases the strain on your jaw. Because ours are made to fit your mouth exactly, they are comfortable enough to actually wear.
Tell us when suits and we will call you back to arrange it. No obligation.
Treatment Overview
What Is Night Guard?
A night guard is a thin, tough plastic guard, shaped to fit over your top or bottom teeth. You pop it in before bed and it sits between your teeth while you sleep. If you grind or clench in the night, the guard takes the pressure and the rubbing, rather than your teeth. It is the usual first step for grinding, and it is simple, non-invasive and reversible.
The point of a guard is protection. Enamel, the hard outer layer of your teeth, does not grow back once it is worn away, so a guard is there to stop that wear before it happens. It also cushions your jaw, which can ease the morning ache and tiredness that grinding brings. Night guards are closely tied to teeth grinding and bruxism, so you may also want to read our Teeth Grinding and Bruxism pages.
The big difference with a guard made here is the fit. A shop-bought or boil-and-bite guard is a rough one-size shape, so it tends to be bulky, loose and uncomfortable, which means most people give up wearing it. We take an impression of your teeth, a dental lab makes the guard to match exactly, and we check and adjust the fit when it is ready. A guard made for your mouth is slimmer, more comfortable, longer-lasting and far more likely to be worn every night, which is the whole point.
We will be honest with you about what a guard does. It protects your teeth and eases your jaw, but it does not stop you grinding. Grinding is often tied to stress and sleep, so we look at those too, and treat any teeth already worn. If your jaw pain points to something more, we will say so and guide you to the right place.
A night guard could help if:
You grind or clench your teeth at night
Your teeth look worn, flat or chipped
You wake with an aching jaw or a headache
Your teeth have become sensitive
You have been told you have bruxism
You want to protect crowns, veneers or other dental work
What to expect:
An impression or scan of your teeth
A guard made to fit by a dental lab
A fit check, with small adjustments if needed
Worn at night while you sleep
Cleaned and kept in its case during the day
Replaced when it wears down over time
Book your appointment
New patient examination £92
We start with a look at your teeth and your bite. Including any X-rays you need.
We look at your teeth, the wear and your bite, and talk about whether a guard is the right step for you. If you are nervous, tell us. It changes how we do things.
02
We take an impression
A mould or a digital scan of your teeth, so the guard can be made to fit you exactly. This is quick and comfortable.
03
The lab makes your guard
A dental lab builds the guard to match your teeth. We will let you know when it is ready to collect, usually a short wait.
04
We fit and adjust it
We check the guard sits and bites correctly, make any small tweaks, and show you how to wear, clean and store it.
Longer appointments, so we can talk through your concerns and give you a break if you need one.
Almost pain-free injections
The Wand numbs you without the big needle or the sting. Most patients are surprised how easy it is.
Digital X-rays
We diagnose faster, more accurately and with far less radiation than older film.
A hand to hold
Bring a partner in, or hold a nurse's hand. If you ever need us, we respond the same day.
About Waterside Dental
Your private dental practicein Hythe.
Waterside Dental is a private practice in Hythe, owned and led by principal dentist Dr Nikos Louskos since 2017. It has recently been refurbished to feel more like home than a clinic, and is run by a small, hand-picked team — so you'll always see a familiar face.
Care here is unhurried and patient-led. Appointments are longer so concerns can be talked through properly, treatment is explained in plain language, and nothing is rushed — with breaks during longer procedures whenever you need them.
We welcome private patients from Hythe and across Southampton — whether you're registering as a new patient or visiting for a single course of treatment while staying with your current dentist.
"I firmly believe that dentistry doesn't have to be unpleasant or scary, and that often it can be life-changing."
DR NIKOS LOUSKOS
Our Principal Dentist
Meet Dr NikosLouskos.
DDS · MSc Endodontics · GDC No. 102626
Principal dentist and practice owner, with a special interest in endodontics.
Dr Nikos Louskos qualified in Athens in 2005 and moved to the UK in 2006. He worked as an associate at Waterside before taking ownership of the practice in 2017.
In 2016 he completed a Master's in Endodontic Practice at Queen Mary University of London. He accepts referrals for complex root canal cases, which he treats under a microscope, and enjoys all aspects of general dentistry.
Nobody wants surprises after a dental visit. You'll get an itemised treatment plan with exact costs before anything begins, plus monthly payment options to spread the cost.
Finance is provided by Tabeo and is interest-bearing from 9.9% APR. Practice-plan discounts apply to selected treatments — full terms are listed on the Fees and Plans pages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions patientsask us.
A few of the things patients ask us most often. If your question isn't here, just get in touch — we're happy to talk it through.
It sits over your teeth while you sleep and takes the wear and pressure of grinding, so your teeth do not. It also cushions your jaw, which can ease the morning ache. It protects your teeth, but it does not stop the grinding itself.
Yes, for most people. A shop-bought guard is a rough one-size shape, so it is often bulky and uncomfortable and ends up in a drawer. A guard made to fit your teeth is slimmer, more comfortable and longer-lasting, which means you are far more likely to wear it every night.
We take a mould or a digital scan of your teeth, a dental lab makes the guard to match exactly, and we check the fit and adjust it when it is ready. It is a simple, comfortable process with no drilling.
Rinse and clean it after each use, let it dry, and keep it in its case during the day. Bring it to your check-ups so we can look it over. Like anything worn every night, it wears down in time and will eventually need replacing.
They do different jobs. A night guard protects against grinding while you sleep. A sports mouthguard is thicker and made to absorb knocks during sport. We make both. You can see the sports version on our Mouthguards page under General Dentistry.
It depends on how much wear there is. If your teeth are already worn or chipping, a guard is worth it to protect them. If it is very mild, we may just keep an eye on it. We will give you an honest view at your appointment.
Yes. Tell us when you book. Having a guard made is one of the gentler things we do, with no drilling. We allow longer appointments so nothing is rushed, and you can bring someone in with you or hold a nurse's hand.
Whether you'd like to book or just have a question about treatment, send us a message and a member of the team will get back to you — the same day wherever we can.
