Protect your enamel while you sleep with a custom nightguard designed from digital scans at our Armitage Avenue office.
A slim, custom-fit shield may be the hardest-working thing in your mouth after dark. Each night you clench or grind, a well-made nightguard takes the pressure your teeth would otherwise absorb, helping protect enamel, fillings, and crowns from slow, silent damage.
Cityview Dental Arts, the Dental Group of Chicago office on Armitage Avenue, designs custom nightguards as part of our general dentistry in Bucktown. Scans, fittings, and follow-up checks all happen in one office, so protecting your teeth fits easily into a busy week.
A nightguard is a removable appliance worn over the upper or lower teeth while you sleep. It places a smooth barrier between the two arches, so clenching and grinding wear down the guard instead of your enamel. Dentists sometimes call it an occlusal splint or a bite guard. It is also different from a sports guard, and sports mouthguards in Bucktown are built thicker to absorb impact during games and practice.
Research supports this kind of protection. A 2024 systematic review in BMC Oral Health narrowed 808 published articles down to 15 qualifying studies and concluded occlusal splint therapy is a viable treatment approach for sleep bruxism. A nightguard does not cure grinding, but it can help limit the damage while you and your dentist work on the habit.
Dr. Bock founded Cityview Dental Arts and continues to treat patients from the Bucktown office today. His long history in the neighborhood means many patients have trusted him with their care for years, now backed by the resources of Dental Group of Chicago.
Drugstore guards are a quick fix, but they are made to fit everyone, which often means a looser and bulkier fit. A guard made from scans of your own teeth offers several advantages.
A poorly fitting guard may also put uneven pressure on certain teeth, which is one reason our dentists prefer a design made for your mouth. If you have not been diagnosed yet, an evaluation for bruxism in Bucktown can confirm whether a guard makes sense for you.
Creating a custom nightguard usually takes two short visits, and neither one is uncomfortable. Here is what to expect from start to finish.
We capture your teeth with digital scans instead of trays of putty. These images record the shape of each tooth and show exactly how your upper and lower teeth come together.
Your dentist decides whether the guard should cover the upper or lower teeth and how thick it needs to be. These choices depend on how heavily you grind, the dental work already in your mouth, and what feels most comfortable to you.
When your nightguard is ready, we check the fit, smooth any spots that feel tight, and confirm your bite feels even. It can take a few nights for the guard to feel natural, and small adjustments are available if anything feels off. If your teeth meet unevenly, bite maintenance in Bucktown may also be part of your plan.
A few simple habits keep your guard clean and comfortable. Rinse it with cool water each morning, brush it gently with a soft toothbrush and mild soap, and let it air-dry before storing it in its ventilated case. Avoid hot water, which can warp the material, and keep the case away from pets, who may treat a guard like a chew toy.
Bring your nightguard to your teeth cleaning in Bucktown so we can look for cracks, thinning, or changes in fit. With good care, a custom guard typically lasts several years, though heavy grinders may need a replacement sooner. New crowns or other restorations can also change how a guard fits, so we may adjust or remake it after major dental work.
A nightguard helps protect the teeth and dental work you have already invested in. Before we begin, our team reviews your dental coverage with you and explains any costs, so there are no surprises when your guard is ready.
Cherry financing can break the cost into manageable monthly payments. New patients without dental insurance may also start with our $99 visit, which includes an initial cleaning, a comprehensive exam, and a full set of digital X-rays.
Dr. Jerome Bock founded Cityview Dental Arts and still treats patients at our Bucktown office, where our team now works with the support of Dental Group of Chicago. Your scans, fitting, adjustments, and follow-up checks all happen here, so there is no need to visit another office for a guard that fits.
Our evening hours run until 8 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, which makes it easier to schedule a scan or fitting around work. While you are here, enjoy our comfort menu, including heated blankets, a coffee bar, Netflix, and fresh fruit.
With daily cleaning and proper storage, a custom nightguard typically lasts several years. Heavy grinders may wear through a guard sooner, so we check yours at each visit.
Either can work well. Your dentist recommends an arch based on your bite, your existing dental work, and what feels most comfortable for you.
A nightguard does not stop the grinding habit itself, but it absorbs the force so your teeth take less of the damage. Stress management and other habit changes may help reduce how often grinding happens.
It is not a good substitute. Sports mouthguards are thicker and designed to absorb impact during activity, while a nightguard is slimmer and shaped for comfortable all-night wear.
A snug fit is normal, and many people notice mild pressure for the first few nights. If the guard pinches, rubs, or makes your bite feel off in the morning, bring it in and we can adjust it.
Yes, a nightguard can help shield crowns, fillings, and bonding from grinding forces. Let us know about any new dental work so we can keep the guard fitting well.
Our Bucktown office, Cityview Dental Arts, is located at 2232 W. Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60647.
Cityview Dental Arts is open Monday through Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Select any Book Appointment button on this page to pick a time that works for you, and our team will reach out to confirm. We are happy to welcome new patients.
A custom nightguard is one of the simplest ways to shield your teeth from the wear grinding leaves behind. At Cityview Dental Arts, part of Dental Group of Chicago, Bucktown patients get digital scans, a personal fitting, and ongoing checks from the same neighborhood team on Armitage Avenue.
If you wake up with a sore jaw or have noticed new chips and flat spots on your teeth, a nightguard may help you rest easier. Request your nightguard appointment in Bucktown to get started.
2232 W. Armitage Ave
Chicago, IL
Monday – Wednesday
Thursday
Saturday – Sunday
8 AM – 8 PM
10 AM – 6 PM
Closed
