How Much Should You Be Spending on Mouth Guards?

Protecting your smile well is usually far cheaper than repairing damage later. In New Zealand, mouth guards are a crucial piece of protection whether for sport, night-time teeth grinding (bruxism), or other oral health issues. But how much should you realistically expect to spend, and what influences the cost? Here’s a guide to help you decide what’s a fair investment for your needs.

Types of Mouth Guards & What They Cost

There are three main types you’ll see around NZ:

• Stock (Ready-Made) Mouth Guards
  These are bought off the shelf — no custom moulds, just various sizes. They are the cheapest option. Expect to pay between NZ$40-NZ$70 for decent stock guards, depending on quality and where you buy them (sporting stores, pharmacies, larger chains). These guards offer basic protection, but often are bulky, less comfortable, and may interfere with breathing or speaking.
• Boil-and-Bite Mouth Guards
  A step up: you buy a guard made from thermoplastic, boil or otherwise heat it, then bite down to create a better fit. These cost more than stock guards but less than fully custom made ones. In many NZ stores you might find these for ~NZ$70-NZ$150, depending on brand, material, thickness, whether multi-layered, etc. These offer better fit and comfort, but long-term protection and durability still lag behind a custom guard.
• Custom-Made Mouth Guards
  This is where price rises significantly. Custom guards are made by dentists (or dental labs) from impressions or digital scans of your teeth; they are fitted precisely, often with better materials (multi-layered, pressure laminated etc.), and tailored to your oral anatomy and use (sport type, grinding, etc.).

Typical costs in NZ:

• Dentists like MaxCare in Auckland price custom guards between NZ$250 – NZ$550 depending on complexity.
• The Tooth Company Orthodontics quotes about NZ$385 for a triple-layer custom sports mouth guard.
• In Tauranga (Duncan Dental) custom made mouthguards start from about NZ$195.
• SmilePath offers one of their custom sports-mouth guard models at NZ$230 (GST inclusive).

What Drives the Cost?

Several factors influence how much you’ll spend:

1. Protection level needed: If you’re doing high-impact sport (rugby, MMA), a thick, multi-layered, highly durable guard can cost much more. For mild use or occasional non-contact sports, something simpler may suffice.
2. Material & build quality: Guards made of higher-grade EVA, laminated or vacuum formed, with pressure lamination, better edge finish, strong retention, colour options etc. cost more.
3. Custom fit vs ready-made: Making an impression or doing a scan takes time and lab-work. That drives up cost compared to stock or boil-and-bite guards.
4. Longevity & usage: If the guard sees heavy use, or if you grind/clench at night, you’ll want something durable — which often means higher-cost materials.
5. Dentist’s fees / lab fees / clinic location: Urban areas (Auckland, Wellington) tend to have higher fees than rural ones. Specialist clinics or orthodontic firms may charge more.

What Should You Be Spending?

Here’s a rough guide to match spend with your situation. These are NZ approximate ranges as of mid-2025.

If your budget is modest, a well-fitted boil-and-bite guard may be “good enough” as long as it fits well, is replaced when worn, and doesn’t interfere with breathing/speaking. If you want the best protection, or if damage would cost more later (e.g. broken tooth, root canal etc.), then splurging a bit more on a solid custom guard is often worth it.

Mouth Ulcers: Types, Causes & Treatment

Mouth ulcers — or aphthous ulcers — are a common complaint in dental clinics around New Zealand. They are small, painful sores inside the mouth that can make eating, speaking or brushing your teeth uncomfortable. Most heal on their own, but understanding the types, causes and treatment options helps you get relief sooner and avoid recurrence.