A retainer holds your teeth in the position braces or aligners left them. A night guard puts a layer between the teeth so grinding and clenching wear the plastic instead of the enamel. They look alike, they are not the same thing.
An Essix retainer is about 1 mm thick and will crack or wear through under grinding. A night guard is 1.5 to 3 mm and shaped for load, not for holding alignment.
| Essix retainer | Night guard | |
|---|---|---|
| Job | Keeps teeth from moving | Takes the grinding |
| Thickness | About 1 mm | 1.5 to 3 mm |
| Material | Clear thin plastic | Hard acrylic, soft or hybrid |
| Lasts | 1 to 3 years | 6 months to 3 years by type |
| Price here | $139 an arch | $119 an arch |
Yes, and many people after braces do. The usual setup is the retainer on one arch and the guard on the other, so both jobs get done without two layers on the same teeth. If your dentist wants a retainer on both arches, the guard goes on the lower arch over the lower retainer only when the dentist says the fit allows it.
Teeth that just moved are the easiest to move back, so skipping the retainer to wear a guard is the wrong trade. A hard night guard can be made to hold a recently aligned arch reasonably well, but it is not a retainer. Ask for a guard on the arch that grinds most and keep the retainer on the other, then reassess after six months.
One impression kit, both trays, and two appliances from the same model. A licensed dentist reviews the photos, our technicians press both, and they reach you together in 6 to 10 business days door to door. Reorders later come from the saved model at 30 percent off with Mold Once.
Not for real grinding. A 1 mm Essix cracks and wears through. Light clenching is about the most it tolerates.
Not reliably. It is shaped for load, not for holding every tooth in place. Keep the retainer.
About 1 mm. A night guard is 1.5 to 3 mm depending on the build.
Sometimes on the lower arch, when the dentist confirms the fit. The usual answer is retainer on one arch, guard on the other.
Here the retainer is $139 an arch and the night guard $119 an arch, impression kit and postage included in both.