A night guard costs $200 to $800 custom-made by a dentist, $100 to $200 for an online custom-fit guard, and $15 to $40 over the counter in 2026. A night guard is a protective plastic appliance worn while you sleep to shield your teeth from grinding and clenching (bruxism) — and it’s far cheaper than repairing the damage grinding causes.
This guide compares the three ways to buy one, when the custom version is worth the premium, and what insurance covers.
Night guard cost by type
| Where you get it | Cost | Fit & durability |
|---|---|---|
| Dentist custom (hard/dual-laminate) | $300 – $800 | Best fit, most durable, right thickness for your case |
| Dentist custom (soft) | $200 – $500 | Good for mild grinding; wears faster |
| Online custom-fit (impression kit) | $100 – $200 | Made from your home impression; good middle ground |
| OTC boil-and-bite | $15 – $40 | Bulky, short-lived, fits loosely |
| OTC stock (one-size) | $10 – $25 | Poorest fit; short-term only |
The three tiers really trade fit and longevity for price. A dentist guard is made from a precise impression, in a material and thickness matched to how hard you grind. Online kits bridge the gap — you take the impression at home and a lab makes the guard. Drugstore guards are cheapest but bulkiest, and many people stop wearing them, which defeats the purpose.
When the custom guard is worth it
- You grind regularly or hard. Custom hard/dual-laminate guards withstand real grinding force; soft OTC guards get chewed through.
- You have jaw pain, headaches, or TMJ symptoms. Fit and thickness matter clinically here — a dentist-made guard is the right call.
- Comfort determines compliance. The best guard is the one you actually wear every night; custom guards are less bulky and more comfortable, so people keep them in.
- You’ve already cracked a tooth or filling from grinding. Protecting the remaining teeth justifies the custom investment easily.
When a cheaper option is reasonable: mild or occasional grinding, or trying a boil-and-bite guard short-term to see if you tolerate wearing one before investing in custom. Starting cheap to test tolerance, then upgrading, is a sensible budget path.
Night guard cost with insurance
Many dental plans cover a custom night guard at around 50% when it’s prescribed for diagnosed bruxism or TMJ, within the annual maximum — the dentist documents the medical need. Coverage usually applies only to the dentist-made guard, not OTC or online ones. Either way, HSA/FSA funds can pay for a night guard, custom or not, since it’s a qualified medical expense. Ask for a pre-treatment estimate to confirm your share.
Why a night guard saves money
Grinding is silently destructive, and its consequences are expensive:
| Grinding damage | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|
| Worn-down enamel / flattened teeth | Bonding to crowns, $100 – $2,500 |
| Cracked tooth | Crown or root canal, $800 – $4,300 |
| Cracked or lost fillings | New fillings, $150 – $450 each |
| Gum recession from clenching | Gum graft, $600 – $1,200/tooth |
| Jaw pain / TMJ / headaches | Ongoing treatment |
Set against a single cracked-tooth crown, a $200–$800 guard pays for itself the first time it prevents damage. For chronic grinders it’s protective maintenance, not an optional extra.
How to buy smart
- Start OTC if unsure you’ll tolerate a guard — a $20 boil-and-bite for a few weeks tells you whether you can sleep with one before you invest.
- Consider an online custom-fit kit ($100–$200) if you grind regularly but want to avoid the dentist premium — a solid middle option for straightforward cases.
- Go dentist-custom for hard grinding, jaw pain, or TMJ — fit and clinical judgment matter, and insurance often helps.
- Use HSA/FSA money regardless of tier.
- Replace it when it wears through — a guard with holes no longer protects; check yours periodically.
The bigger picture
A night guard is one piece of protecting your teeth from grinding; the others cost nothing — managing stress (a common trigger), avoiding caffeine and alcohol before bed, and treating any gum issues grinding aggravates. If grinding has already damaged a tooth, see our crown cost and filling cost guides for the repair side — and then a guard to stop it happening again.