Frequently Asked Questions

Why might a night guard or other protective appliance be advisable?
Night-time appliances help keep teeth from moving, protect ceramic restorations, and protect teeth from wear damage caused by teeth grinding, clenching, and TMJ problems. Our mouth guard is made of non-latex material worn either during the day or throughout the night to prevent teeth grinding and help relieve pain and discomforts associated with it.

Can I talk with this night guard in my mouth?
Absolutely! Custom night guards are not bulky. They're custom-made to fit your individual mouth. Your tongue is not restricted and moves around freely. Our night guards are comfortable to wear while sleeping, plus you can wear them during the day without any restrictions.

Is this a hard acrylic type night guard? What is the night guard made of?
Our dental lab offers both the soft and acrylic versions of night guards. The night guards are made from FDA-approved energy absorbing laminates. To prevent allergic reactions we use ethyl vinyl acetate to fabricate your mouth guard. This is made of non-latex materials. Both guards may help to keep your teeth and jaws at a more relaxed state than after it has been strained on the opposing arch. You will definitely notice the comfort level when you wear your new custom night guard.

The soft is a more flexible material and can be made in 3 different thicknesses, for light, moderate and heavy grinders. The “grinding habits” you choose when ordering will determine the thickness of the guard. This softer material cushions your teeth when you are clinching or grinding.  It can withstand the 200 pounds of pressure that your mouth may give it without distorting. 

The acrylic night guard is semi acrylic. This means that it is a dual laminate guard with a hard acrylic material on the outside and the softer material on the inside. This guard is made for one thickness, so we only suggest you order it if you are a light to moderate grinder or clincher.  With the soft material on the inside of the guard, closest to the teeth, it protects your teeth from cracking/chipping and for an added comfort fit. The outside of the guard is a smooth, harder acrylic material which simulates the material of your teeth and is less flexible for durability.

Which type of night guard should I order?
Please note that if your dentist has given you a recommendation for a night guard, you should order accordingly. (Soft or Acrylic Guard and Upper or Lower.)

Otherwise you should order your night guard for the set of teeth (either upper or lower) which have the least wear. They are the sharper teeth. The night guards should typically be worn on this set of teeth unless for comfort reasons, you prefer the opposite arch.  Both sets of teeth will be protected. You can order either the soft or acrylic night guard however, if you are a very heavy grinder it is advisable to not order the acrylic as it may not stand over 200 lbs of pressure that your mouth can put it under.

How do I know what to choose for my “grinding habits” when ordering the soft guard?
The “grinding habits” you choose when ordering will determine the thickness of the guard. The exact measurements vary but the lighter the grinding, the thinner the guard will be fabricated by the technicians.

Is it really simple to take my own impressions at home?
Taking your own impression is not difficult providing you follow our step-by-step instructions. We send along a guide to walk you through the process. Remember to make an impression of the set of teeth with the least wear and push the teeth through the material until the teeth lightly touch the tray without tearing through it. It is important to remember that a good impression should show both your teeth and gums.

How long does it take for my order to ship?
All orders are shipped within 1-3 business days of ordering. Once you receive your kit take  your impressions and return them to the lab. Once we receive your impressions, please allow our dental technicians 3-7 business days to get your custom fitted guard(s) made and put back into the mail. Please keep in mind that the Lab hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00-5:00 ET.

How long does it take to get my night guards back?
You will receive the night guards in just a couple of days following the fabrication of the guard. This could mean you could receive your guard in as little as about 10 days, although the complete processing time may vary slightly.

What do I receive with my night guard?
You will receive the “stone” or cast mold of your teeth, your night guard(s), and a protective appliance case. Be careful…for some reason animals, (especially dogs) love to take your guards and chew them up! We strongly advise the use of your case that is provided with the night guard.

What should I do if I would like to order Pro-White Teeth Custom whitening trays (or night guards) and I already have molds of my teeth?
We can gladly help you out here and with a discount! We will take down your name, email address, and phone number. One of our customer care representatives will call you as soon as possible and during the labs hours (9:00-5:00 EST) to give you additional information and gladly take your order.

How do I care for my night guard?
It is advisable to purchase a guard cleaner, such as Ortho Clean. This allows you to soak the appliance in the cleaner with water to remove bacteria, plaque, and germs that can form on your night guard. Ortho Clean will control odors and remove any harmful bacteria.

What if they don't fit?
In the event that your night guard does not fit, our lab technicians will adjust your guard accordingly. Call our customer service at 888-845-4249 so you can get in touch with a dental technician to assist you.

Should I remove my impressions (putty) from the tray once I have made them and I am ready to mail them to the lab?
No, please leave the impression in the tray. This allows it to fully set and protect it during the mailing process.

What should I return to the lab once I have done my impressions?
Make your impressions of the set of teeth according to your order. Return your impression in the pre-addressed/stamped envelope along with your impression information card. This has your contact information for your materials while in the lab.

What do I do if the lab sent me a redo kit for the impressions?
Here at Pro-Active Labs and Nightguards.com, we want you to be satisfied with your night guard. It is important that your teeth and gums are visible in the impression. Impressions must be made according to the instructions for accuracy. If our dental technicians are unable to fabricate your custom whitening trays from your impression, or upon your receipt of the trays, they do not fit properly; a redo kit will be sent in order to get the proper impressions. Please see the enclosed instructions in order to take the best impression possible.

What is the additional teeth whitening that is available with my order?
Pro-White Teeth is one of the most popular and cost effective teeth whitening systems on the market. The entire teeth whitening system retails for $99.95- a significant discount can be offered while ordering your night guard! You will receive 3 tubes of high-viscosity carbabmide peroxide teeth whitening gel (3 ml in size, or 6 treatments each syringe) Used in conjunction with separate custom teeth whitening trays, teeth will get up to 10 shades lighter in 7-10 days.

How do I take my impressions if I ordered teeth whitening and a night guard?
When you receive your kit use the clear tray for your night guard. There is another tray, beige colored, for your opposite impression. You will not need to use your night guard to whiten your teeth. You will receive 2 custom-made bleaching trays for your teeth. Just like from the dentist. You may look at ProWhiteTeeth.com for additional information on our custom teeth whitening. From the two impressions, our dental technicians will fabricate your night guard(s) as well as upper and lower teeth whitening trays.