Ortho Appliances

Occlusal Guards/Night Guards

Occlusal guards are removable mouth guards that help prevent wear and tear on your teeth during the night. There are specific standards that ADA sets for an ideal mouth guard. It should:

Fit appropriately to the wearer’s mouth as well as to adapt to their oral structures.
Be made from resilient material approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Cover all teeth on one arch.
Comfortably and securely stay in place.
Be easy to clean.
Maintain high-impact energy absorption.
Reduce transmitted forces when the wearer faces an impact if participating in sports or physical activity.

Insurance companies use Current Dental Terminology (CDT) codes to identify dental procedures and appliances. The latest CDT dental insurance codes for night guards (occlusal guard) are broken into three different categories:

Previously, occlusal guards had just one code, but in 2019, the ADA updated the code to include three different types of night guards for teeth grinding. This allows for more descriptive and accurate procedure reporting. The updated codes can also lead to quicker payment of your claim.

Because night guards are split into three categories, you’ll need to know which category your appliance fits into before filing your insurance claim. Using the incorrect code may result in your claim being denied.

D9944: A hard night guard that covers all of your teeth on either your upper or lower jaw is classified as a hard appliance, full arch.
D9945: A soft night guard that covers all of your teeth on either your upper or lower jaw is classified as a soft appliance, full arch.
D9946: A hybrid night guard that is hard on the outside but softer on the inside and covers all of your teeth on either your upper or lower jaw is classified as a hard appliance, full arch.

Schedule A Pickup

To schedule an in-office case pickup or to provide you with Rxs, airbills and boxes, call us at 1-888-575-3906.