If a dentist has mentioned either term, it's worth knowing which one you're actually being offered — they're not interchangeable.
Night guard: passive protection
A night guard is designed to cushion the impact of clenching and grinding and protect your teeth from wear. It doesn't change your bite or jaw position — it just sits there as a barrier while your jaw muscles do whatever they were going to do anyway. This is generally what we cover in our night guard deep-dive.
TMJ splint: active treatment
A TMJ splint (sometimes called an orthotic or bite splint) is a thicker, more rigid appliance specifically designed to reposition the jaw and directly address joint dysfunction — not just protect teeth. It's generally reserved for people with a diagnosed TMD, rather than grinding alone, and treatment plans often involve wearing it more hours per day, sometimes including daytime use, under closer dental supervision.
Why the distinction matters
Because a splint actively changes jaw position, long-term or unsupervised use carries a real risk of shifting your bite in ways that are hard to reverse — this is why splints are typically meant for defined treatment periods with regular dentist check-ins, unlike a night guard, which is generally safe for longer-term, lower-supervision use.
Which one do you need?
- Night guard: mainly a grinding/clenching habit, teeth wear, no significant joint dysfunction
- TMJ splint: diagnosed joint dysfunction — clicking, limited opening, or pain that hasn't responded to simpler measures
Either way, this is a decision to make with a dentist rather than choosing an over-the-counter option based on guesswork, especially for a splint. In the meantime, our Bruxism & Overuse Relief program covers what you can do without any appliance at all.