Hard, soft, dual-laminate, and NTI. From any scanner or impression. Designed for the bruxer, the parafunctional patient, the post-restorative case, and the TMD patient.
We fabricate to the prescription. The diagnostic and treatment-planning decisions stay with the dentist. The clearest indications are bruxism, parafunctional load, TMD, and post-restorative protection.
Hard acrylic for bruxism and parafunctional load. Soft thermoplastic for comfort and minor grinding. Dual-laminate combines both, covered in the body below.
Pressure-formed acrylic. Durability for severe bruxers and parafunctional cases. Maintains shape under heavy load, doesn't deform with use.
Thermoplastic guard, softer fit, easier patient adoption. The right call for minor grinding, TMD comfort cases, and patients who can't tolerate a hard guard.
Pick the scenario closest to your case. We'll show the recommendation and the reasoning. Anything outside these reads as a planning call, not a guess.
Strength wins. No reason to risk porcelain chipping under heavy occlusion when monolithic delivers comparable esthetics for a posterior position.
Esthetics wins. If thin prep is possible, Emax usually edges out. Otherwise layered zirconia gets there with custom characterization.
Span and connector dimensions covered in zirconia bridges. We’ll plan the case if span limits are borderline.
Stain-and-glaze characterization on monolithic gets most anterior cases into the acceptable-match range without the layered overhead.
We fabricate from any major intraoral scanner (iTero, TRIOS, Medit, Primescan) or from a traditional impression. Include the opposing arch for occlusal registration and any clinical notes on the patient’s bite.
The design starts with the scan or impression. We adjust the occlusal scheme, the thickness, and the boundary extensions to the case. Borderline cases get a planning call, we’d rather over-discuss than fabricate to a guess.
Most nightguard patients adjust within a week or two. The most common short-term experiences are increased salivation, mild jaw soreness, and the feeling of having something foreign in the mouth at first.
The longer-term considerations: a nightguard worn full-time can occasionally cause minor occlusal changes if the design isn’t right for the case. This is why the design and the prescription matter. For TMD patients particularly, follow-up adjustments are part of the treatment, not a sign that the appliance was wrong.
Reference values · confirm against current CDT. Insurance language varies by carrier.
Hard guard and dual-laminate default.
Soft full-arch guard.
NTI and anterior-only splints.
For TMD-specific orthotic appliances.
"IDA has become my go to dental lab for all of my implant crowns and bridges as well as traditional bridge cases. Their restorations consistently demonstrate an outstanding fit, often seating with minimal to no adjustments. The esthetics also meet the highest demands. They are easy to work with and always helpful when questions arise. I confidently recommend them to colleagues seeking reliable, highly esthetic results."
Dr. Michael O'Brien
"We've had nothing but positive experiences with this lab. Their team is always willing to help, whether we have questions about a case, need assistance with a remake, or just want a second opinion on treatment planning."
Dr. Lauran Spencer, DDS
"IDA Tulsa's work on fixed restorations, implant and tooth borne, is very high quality and consistent. Everyone I've worked with from IDA has been very available, open to communication, and helpful in delivering quality restorations for patients. Chris has been a great partner to work with in the dental business."
Dr. Heath Coleman Secure Dentures and Implants
For post-restorative protection cases where the guard is the last step in a larger restorative plan.
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Cross-reference: post-restorative protection cases where zirconia restorations need occlusal guards.
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Cross-reference: nightguards designed to coordinate with denture cases where applicable.
Learn moreSchedule a 15-minute case consultation with an IDA technician. We'll talk through your scan, your patient, and what you need from us.
The questions that come up most often before we fabricate. Anything outside these is a planning call.
Contact UsFunctionally, the same appliance. “Night guard” is the patient-facing term. “Occlusal guard” is the ADA-coded term. Same fabrication, same materials, same indication for most cases.
Hard guards typically 3 to 5+ years with reasonable patient handling. Soft guards 1 to 2 years. Dual-laminate sits between.
D9946 (occlusal guard, partial arch).
iTero, TRIOS, Medit, Primescan, and other major intraoral scanners. Traditional impressions are also fine.