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Morning headaches
Present on waking rather than building through the day.
Night Guards for Teeth Grinding
Custom Night Guards
If you wake with a headache, a sore jaw or sensitive teeth, you may be grinding all night without knowing it. This is what stops the damage.
Is this you
You cannot feel it happening. You can see what it leaves.
Bruxism is unconscious, so nobody arrives sure they have it. The evidence is in the morning, and in the mirror.
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A sore or stiff jaw
Muscles that have been working all night, and a joint that clicks.
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Teeth that have flattened
Edges worn level, and teeth visibly shorter than they were.
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Sensitivity you cannot explain
Hot and cold reaching the nerve because the enamel over it has gone.
And the damage that has already started, if you recognise those
The Treatment
What it is, and how it works.
What is a night guard?
A durable barrier between the upper and lower teeth, made to the shape of your own mouth. It does not stop you grinding — it makes the grinding harmless, and takes the load off the joint while it does.
In the practice’s words
Night guards are specialized dental appliances designed to protect your teeth while you sleep. Custom-made to fit the unique shape of your mouth, they create a comfortable, durable barrier between your upper and lower teeth — minimizing the harmful effects of nighttime habits like grinding and clenching.
At Mason Park Dental, your night guard will be designed specifically to address your grinding pattern, bite alignment, and jaw tension points for optimum protection and relief. Our custom night guards are crafted from premium materials, offering a thinner, more comfortable experience compared to store-bought versions.
Four things it does while you are asleep
- Cushions the grindingThe teeth do not make contact, so the pressure is absorbed instead of transmitted. No chips, no fractures, no flattening.
- Relaxes the jawIt repositions the jaw slightly, taking strain off the muscles and the temporomandibular joint.
- Shields the enamelThe outer surface of a tooth does not regenerate once worn away. This is the only part of the damage that is genuinely irreversible.
- Improves your sleepClenched muscles disrupt sleep cycles. Less tension is deeper, more restorative sleep and less morning fatigue.
Why This One
What it does for you.
The practice’s own five reasons for a made one rather than a bought one, and the sixth it calls a bonus.
A custom fit
Moulded to your exact bite, so it does not move in the night and does not irritate.
Durable materials
High-grade, dental-approved, built to take nightly pressure. Years, not months.
Designed by a dentist
Dr. Dave Cho fits it to your concern — cracked teeth, jaw discomfort, or protecting existing work.
A short process
One impression, one follow-up for the fit. Adjustments made on the spot.
It protects more than teeth
Cracked teeth, worn enamel, TMJ disorders, chronic jaw pain and headaches all trace back to the same force.
Peace of mind
The practice’s own word for it. A small step that stops you worrying about the thing you cannot control.
Your dentist
Dr. Dave Cho, DMD
Dr. Dave Cho designs the guard around your grinding pattern rather than a standard one, and supervises the fit himself.
- 5Steps, consultation to care
- 3Nights to adapt, typically
- 4Ways it helps a TMJ disorder
Also on the teamDr. William Sung, DMDFellow of the Academy of General DentistryWhat a night guard does for a TMJ disorder
Temporomandibular joint disorders often arise from stress, misalignment, or unconscious habits like clenching or grinding. A custom night guard can:
- Reduce pressure on the jaw joints.
- Prevent further inflammation.
- Improve jaw mobility and comfort.
- Decrease associated headaches and ear pain.
By realigning your bite and cushioning your jaw, night guards for TMJ promote healing and protect against further damage. If the joint itself is the problem rather than the grinding, see TMJ and TMD.
The Path
What happens, step by step.
Consultation
Your symptoms, your bite alignment, and the pattern the wear on your teeth already shows.
Impressions
Precise moulds of your teeth, digital or physical. This is where the custom fit comes from.
Fabrication
Made from durable, high-quality material to your grinding pattern and your jaw tension points.
The fitting
Checked in the mouth and adjusted until nothing presses. Most patients adapt within a few nights.
At-home care
How to clean it, how to store it, and what shortens its life. This is what decides whether it lasts years.
Start at step one.
Bring the morning headache. Dr. Dave Cho can tell from the wear on your teeth whether grinding is what is causing it.
Book an appointmentOr call (281) 769-8878
The Alternatives
What else is on the table.
Wearing one, against waiting to see.
A guard nowLeaving it
The enamel you have is the enamel you keep.It wears away, and does not come back.
One appliance.A crown per cracked tooth, eventually.
Jaw strain eases within weeks.Strain becomes a diagnosed TMJ disorder.
Deeper sleep, less morning fatigue.Disrupted sleep cycles, indefinitely.
Existing restorations survive.Crowns and veneers chip and loosen.
A night guard is not a cure for bruxism. It is the thing that stops bruxism costing you teeth while you deal with what is causing it.
And the one from the pharmacy?
Over-the-counter guards are convenient and they do work, up to a point. The practice is direct about where that point is.
- BulkyWhich is why so many end up in a drawer after a week.
- Poorly fittedA guard that moves in the night protects unevenly, and can shift your bite.
- Limited protectionThinner material that wears down under real grinding pressure.
- Short-livedMonths rather than years, so the cost difference is smaller than it first looks.
If a store-bought one is what you have and you are wearing it every night, that is better than a custom one you have not booked. Come in when you are ready.
The Cost
What it costs, before it starts.
Quoted at the consultation. Set it against what a cracked molar costs, which is the comparison that actually applies here.
Years of wearWith proper care
Cost-effective protection, in the practice’s own words, because a custom guard outlasts several store-bought ones.
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What moves the number
The material, and whether the guard is for one arch or both.
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Insurance and financing
Many plans cover an occlusal guard. See insurance and financing and the savings plan.
The Proof
What Katy patients say about being here.
Jen is the best so personable and relatable. Makes the process so smooth. Love this place!
The staff here is super friendly and informative. Just had my cleaning and exams done, and they were thorough without being rough. The dental filling went really well, didn’t hurt one bit, and they took extra care to ensure it looked great. Overall, a very clear and calm vibe in the office. Highly recommend checking them out for your family dentistry needs.
Reem Almekhlafi
Great, Jenn and Dr Cho are very kind and communicative. Clean and friendly clinic
Ammaar Ahmed
Amazing lovely very kind tidy place
Folakemi Folajaiye
Questions
Questions patients ask before they decide.
How do I know I grind my teeth if I am asleep?
You usually do not, which is why it goes untreated for years. The signs are morning headaches, a sore jaw, flattened or shortened teeth, receding gums, loose fillings and unexplained sensitivity. Dr. Dave Cho can read the wear pattern on your teeth at an exam and tell you.
How long does it take to get used to?
Most patients find they adapt within a few nights. A custom guard is thinner and better fitted than a store-bought one, which is most of the reason.
Will it stop me grinding?
No, and it is not meant to. It stops the grinding from doing damage: the teeth do not contact each other, the pressure is absorbed, and the jaw sits in a more relaxed position. The grinding itself usually has a cause — often stress or bite misalignment — worth addressing separately.
Will it help my TMJ pain?
It can. A night guard reduces pressure on the jaw joints, prevents further inflammation, improves jaw mobility and comfort, and decreases the headaches and ear pain that come with a TMJ disorder. See TMJ and TMD for the joint itself.
How long will one last?
With proper care, a custom night guard from Mason Park Dental can last for years, which is why it works out cost-effective against replacing a store-bought guard every few months.
I already have crowns and veneers. Does that change anything?
It makes the guard more urgent, not less. Grinding chips and loosens restorations, and replacing them costs considerably more than protecting them. Tell Dr. Dave Cho what work you have had done so the guard is designed around it.
The Invitation
Ask about this one.
You do not need to be sure you grind. Come in with the headache, and the wear on your teeth will answer the question.
- Hours
- Mon to Wed 9am to 6pm
Thu 9am to 5pm
Fri to Sun Closed - Emergencies
- Call the practice. We keep same day slots for pain, breaks and knocked out teeth.
