Returning to work after custom mouthguard: the short version
You can return to work immediately after a mouthguard fitting. The appointment is only impressions or a digital scan, followed later by a short visit to check the finished guard. Nothing is numbed, drilled, or sore afterward, so it fits easily into a lunch break or the start of the day.
What is actually going on
Taking impressions means biting into trays of soft putty for a few minutes, top and bottom; a scanner does the same job with a small camera wand. The whole visit is often under half an hour. The most that follows you back to work is a faint taste or a few flecks of impression material between your teeth. The second visit, to try the guard in, is similarly brief: the dentist checks the fit and the bite and trims any edge that rubs. A night guard for grinding is worn while you sleep and has no bearing on your working day, apart from the first few mornings when your bite may feel slightly odd for several minutes after you take it out. A sports guard, of course, is for the field, not the office.
The first time, step by step
A fitting takes nothing out of you, so the return to work is immediate. There are normally two short visits, one for the impression or scan and one to collect and check the guard, and neither involves numbing. After an impression you might want a rinse and a quick look in the mirror for flecks of putty before a meeting. Once you have the guard, the working day matters in one way: where it spends the day. Keep it in its ventilated case in a bag or drawer. If your jaw aches at your desk, mention that to your dentist.
Return to Work After Custom Mouthguard: What You Need to Know
Wait time
After a custom mouthguard, you can typically resume returning to work immediately.
Why
Just a fitting
Tips for Returning to work After Custom Mouthguard
- 01Bring a toothbrush or floss to work on impression day in case small bits of putty are left between the teeth.
- 02If a night guard leaves your jaw or teeth sore well into the morning, let your dentist know so the bite can be adjusted.
- 03Ask how long the lab takes, so you can book the pick-up visit around your schedule.
Common mistakes
- 01Leaving the guard on a sunny windowsill, near a radiator, or in a work vehicle. The plastic softens with heat, and a guard that has changed shape no longer fits the teeth it was made for.
- 02Wearing a night guard at your desk all day without being told to. A guard is designed around a set number of hours, and far more than that can change how the teeth meet.
- 03Setting the guard down in a tissue on your desk at lunch. Anything wrapped in a tissue looks like rubbish, which is how guards and retainers end up in the bin.
Other Activities After Custom Mouthguard
See when you can do other activities after your custom mouthguard:
Table 1 — Other activities after custom mouthguard
| Activity | Wait |
|---|---|
| Use a Straw | Immediately |
| Eat Normally | Immediately |
| Smoke | No restriction |
| Drink Alcohol | No restriction |
| Drive | Immediately |
| Exercise | Immediately |
Recovery info
Recovery timelines are general guidelines based on typical cases. Individual recovery may vary based on your health, the complexity of your procedure, and other factors. Your own dentist's or surgeon's post-operative instructions always take priority over anything on this page. Call them if you are unsure.