What Is a Night Guard Cast
A night guard cast is a dental model of your teeth used to fabricate a custom occlusal splint. Dentists create it from an impression or digital scan of your upper or lower arch. The cast captures exact tooth positions, bite relationships, and jaw alignment, allowing a lab to build a guard that fits precisely.
Why a Cast Is Needed for a Night Guard
A custom night guard requires a cast to ensure accurate fit, even pressure distribution, and comfortable jaw positioning. Off-the-shelf guards lack this precision and may cause bite changes or discomfort. The cast also helps the dentist design the guard to manage grinding forces and reduce strain on the temporomandibular joint.
How the Night Guard Cast Process Works
The dentist takes an impression of your teeth using tray and paste or an intraoral scanner. The impression is poured in dental stone to form a positive cast. The lab uses this model to shape the guard from hard acrylic or dual-material layers. The finished device is adjusted chairside to match your bite. The American Dental Association provides an overview of custom dental devices and their role in managing bruxism at https://www.ada.org/resources/ada-library/oral-health-topics/grinding-your-teeth-bruxism
