Mouthguards
Custom mouthguards in Vietnam for New Zealand patients
Custom sports and night guards at Picasso Dental Clinic for NZ patients — who needs one, indicative NZD prices, and why ordering one during your treatment visit matters.
Custom mouthguards at Picasso Dental Clinic Vietnam cost approximately NZD 50–80 for a sports guard and NZD 80–150 for a custom night guard, compared with NZ private benchmarks of NZD 200–500; patients receiving veneers, crowns, or implants are often advised to order a night guard during the same visit to protect their new restorations.
A custom mouthguard rarely justifies a trip to Vietnam on its own. The return fare and accommodation costs make a NZD 150 saving on a night guard a poor reason to fly. But if you are already visiting Picasso for veneers, crowns, or implants, adding a custom mouthguard to the same visit makes clear financial and clinical sense. The saving is NZD 150 to NZD 350 compared with the same appliance in New Zealand, the fabrication takes 2 to 3 days within your existing trip, and for patients with bruxism it may be one of the more important things you leave Hanoi with.
This page explains the types of mouthguards we make, who needs them, and how the fabrication fits into a treatment visit.
Types of mouthguards we make
Sports guard (impact protection) A custom sports guard protects against tooth fracture, jaw injury, and soft tissue damage during contact sports. It covers the upper teeth and is fabricated from a resilient material designed to absorb and distribute impact force. Common for rugby, touch rugby, hockey, martial arts, and similar sports.
Night guard (occlusal splint for bruxism) A night guard is worn during sleep to protect teeth from the forces of grinding and clenching. It sits between the upper and lower teeth, preventing direct tooth-on-tooth contact, distributing load across the jaw joints, and allowing the jaw muscles to relax. For patients who have received veneers, crowns, or implant-supported crowns, a night guard is a protective investment in those restorations.
Sleep apnoea devices — important note We do not provide mandibular advancement devices for sleep apnoea management. Sleep apnoea requires assessment by a sleep medicine specialist and, where indicated, a properly calibrated mandibular advancement device fitted by a clinician trained in sleep dentistry. If you have been diagnosed with sleep apnoea, discuss treatment with your specialist before your Picasso visit.
Indicative prices — May 2026
| Type | Picasso indicative (NZD) | NZ indicative benchmark | Indicative saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Custom sports guard | NZD 50–80 | NZD 200–400 | NZD 150–320 |
| Custom night guard | NZD 80–150 | NZD 300–500 | NZD 150–350 |
All conversions use 1 NZD = 15,000 VND. Figures are indicative and confirmed at treatment planning. For a written estimate: request a free quote or see full pricing.
Why night guards matter after veneers, crowns, and implants
Bruxism — unconscious grinding or clenching during sleep — is the leading cause of premature failure for dental restorations. Porcelain veneers fracture. Ceramic crowns chip. Implant-retained prosthetics loosen or crack. The forces generated during sleep grinding can exceed those produced during normal eating by a significant margin.
For this reason, any Kiwi patient who has received veneers, crowns, or implant-supported prosthetics at Picasso and has any history or clinical signs of bruxism should have a custom night guard made as part of the same treatment visit.
We look for signs of bruxism during the clinical examination: wear facets on the tooth surfaces, cracked marginal ridges, scalloped tongue edges, and masseter muscle hypertrophy. If we observe these signs, we will raise the question of a night guard before placing any restorations.
For patients with known bruxism considering porcelain veneers in particular: we may recommend addressing the grinding pattern first, managing it, and then placing veneers — to avoid placing thin porcelain on a high-force bite without protection. This is an honest clinical position, not an upsell.
Custom vs over-the-counter
The distinction matters in practice.
A custom mouthguard is made from a precise impression of your teeth, fabricated in a dental laboratory to the correct thickness and coverage for your bite. It seats accurately, does not move during use, and can be worn comfortably through a full night’s sleep or a contact sport match. Patients wear them because they are not uncomfortable enough to remove.
A boil-and-bite over-the-counter guard — typically NZD 20 to NZD 40 from a pharmacy or sports store — is softened in hot water and pressed loosely to the teeth. The fit is approximate. The material is often thicker than necessary. Many patients find them uncomfortable, bulky, or restrictive on breathing. The guard ends up in a drawer.
A guard that is not worn because it is uncomfortable offers no protection. This is why compliance with custom appliances is consistently higher in clinical practice than with over-the-counter alternatives.
The mouthguard fabrication process
- Impressions — digital scan or physical impression of the upper and lower arches; takes 15 to 20 minutes
- Bite registration — records the relationship between your upper and lower teeth
- Laboratory fabrication — the guard is fabricated in our dental laboratory; 2 to 3 working days
- Fit appointment — the finished guard is seated, checked for fit, comfort, and bite, and adjusted as needed
- Instruction — care, cleaning, and storage instructions provided; replacement schedule noted
For most patients visiting Picasso, the impression can be taken early in the treatment week and the guard collected and fitted before departure. No separate visit is required.
Sports guard for contact sports
A custom sports guard provides impact protection for the upper teeth, lips, and jaw during contact sport. The guard absorbs and spreads impact force rather than concentrating it at individual teeth. Custom guards stay in place during movement and impact in a way that over-the-counter alternatives generally do not, because they seat accurately against the tooth surfaces.
For New Zealand patients who play rugby, hockey, martial arts, boxing, or similar sports, a custom guard at NZD 50 to NZD 80 represents good value relative to the cost of an emergency crown or implant following a sporting injury.
A mouthguard does not protect against concussion or jaw fracture from severe impact — these are governed by the physics of force transmission through the skull. Its role is protection of the teeth and soft tissues.
What to bring or disclose
- Any existing night guard or sports guard — bring it to the appointment for reference; we can assess fit, wear, and whether replacement is needed
- Details of the sports you play — contact, frequency, and level of competition
- Any history of grinding, jaw clenching, morning jaw soreness, or waking headaches
- Existing dental restorations — crowns, veneers, implants — so the guard can be designed to protect them
- Any jaw joint symptoms — clicking, locking, or pain — which may affect occlusal appliance design
Next step
A night guard or sports guard is a straightforward addition to any Picasso treatment visit. If you are already planning implants, veneers, or crowns, ask for it to be included in your treatment plan from the start.
Request a free NZD quote · Veneers · Dental implants · Aftercare — nightguard and bruxism
About this page
Medically reviewed by
Dr. Emily Nguyen
Founding Clinical Director, Picasso Dental Clinic
DDS · Founder and Clinical Director, Picasso Dental Clinic group
Clinical focus: Cosmetic dentistry · Veneers · Smile design
Dr. Emily Nguyen founded Picasso Dental Clinic in 2013 (originally Serenity International Dental Clinic) and led its 2023 rebrand. She sets clinical standards across the group's six branches in Hanoi, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Lat, and personally reviews cosmetic protocols including the Portrait Sitting workflow for veneers and smile makeovers.
Frequently asked questions
What types of mouthguards does Picasso Dental Clinic make?
We fabricate two types of custom mouthguard: sports guards for impact protection during contact sports, and night guards (occlusal splints) for patients who grind or clench their teeth during sleep. Both are custom-made from impressions to fit your exact bite. We do not provide sleep apnoea mandibular advancement devices — patients with sleep apnoea should see a sleep medicine specialist.
Who needs a custom night guard?
Any patient with evidence of tooth grinding (bruxism) or jaw clenching should consider a night guard. Signs include worn tooth surfaces, cracked teeth, jaw soreness in the morning, or a history of waking with headaches. For patients who have had veneers, crowns, or implant crowns placed, a night guard is particularly important — bruxism is the leading cause of veneer fracture, crown chipping, and implant prosthetic damage.
How much does a custom mouthguard cost at Picasso in NZD?
As of May 2026, a custom sports mouthguard costs approximately NZD 50–80 and a custom night guard approximately NZD 80–150, both indicative and using 1 NZD = 15,000 VND. These figures are confirmed at treatment planning.
How much does a custom mouthguard cost in New Zealand?
Indicative New Zealand private benchmarks: custom sports guard NZD 200–400; custom night guard NZD 300–500. These are indicative planning ranges only, not a quote from any specific clinic.
What is the difference between a custom mouthguard and an over-the-counter boil-and-bite?
A custom mouthguard is fabricated in a dental laboratory from an impression of your teeth. It fits the exact contours of your bite, distributes force evenly, and is comfortable enough to wear consistently. An over-the-counter boil-and-bite guard is softened in hot water and moulded loosely to the teeth. The fit is approximate, the material is thicker, and many patients find them uncomfortable enough to stop wearing. A guard that is not worn provides no protection.
Do I need a night guard before getting veneers?
If there is clinical evidence of significant bruxism, we will discuss this with you before placing veneers. In some cases, we recommend addressing the grinding pattern first — or planning the night guard as part of the same treatment visit — to avoid placing restorations that are immediately at risk from nocturnal grinding. If you already know you grind, tell us when you first make contact so this can be factored into your treatment plan.