If you are grinding your teeth or waking with a sore jaw in Novato, a custom nightguard or TMJ splint is a straight drive south on Highway 101 to D Street Dental Group in downtown San Rafael. Dr. Steve Truman builds each appliance to your exact bite, so the short run down the freeway buys protection that a drugstore tray cannot match.
Protect Teeth Before Damage Shows
Most clenching and grinding happens while you sleep, which is why it usually goes unnoticed. Bruxism quietly flattens enamel, hairlines into cracked teeth, and leaves you with a tight, tender jaw and the kind of dull morning headache that is easy to blame on something else. By the time it is obvious, the damage often means a crown or worse. A custom appliance steps in early and absorbs that nightly force before it costs you a tooth.
Every guard we make starts with a precise impression of your bite, not a bulky tray boiled in a kitchen pot. Dr. Steve looks at how your teeth meet, where they are wearing, and what is keeping you up, then matches the appliance to the actual problem, whether that is grinding overnight, a strained joint, or contact protection for a Novato athlete.
Three Appliances, One Custom Fit
- Hard nightguard, shields enamel from the grinding and clenching that happen while you sleep
- TMJ splint, eases the jaw into a position that decompresses the joint and quiets morning soreness
- Sports guard, a fit and level of protection no over-the-counter version comes close to
- All three are made from your own bite impression, so they are comfortable, durable, and built to stay put
This Is for You If You
- Grind or clench your teeth, especially overnight
- Wake up with a tight jaw, facial tension, or a headache
- Notice teeth that look worn, chipped, or feel newly sensitive
- Play sports and want protection that actually fits
What to Expect
- Evaluation We look at your bite, your wear patterns, and what you are feeling, then talk through which appliance fits the situation.
- Precise impression We capture your bite accurately so the finished guard sits the way it should.
- Custom fabrication Your guard or splint is made from durable hard acrylic, built to your specifications.
- Fit and follow-up We fine-tune the fit in the chair and check it at your regular visits so it keeps doing its job.
Serving Novato
Novato is the largest city in northern Marin, sitting up 101 above San Rafael, so getting to us is simply a matter of pointing the car south on the freeway to 1099 D Street downtown. There is no winding through neighborhoods or hunting for a shortcut. Whether you are coming from Old Town Novato along Grant Avenue, the family streets off Novato Boulevard, or the shops around Vintage Oaks, the 101 carries you most of the way.
That easy run is part of why a custom appliance is worth the trip. A nightguard or TMJ splint takes an impression visit and a short fitting, and because Dr. Steve handles your care himself, the drive south buys real continuity rather than a new face each time. Our office is at 1099 D Street, Suite 206, on the second floor, with street parking along D Street and several public lots a short walk away in downtown San Rafael.
Why D Street Dental Group
Dr. Steve Truman
Dr. Steve earned his DDS from the University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry and served as a clinical instructor. He would rather protect a tooth than rebuild it, fitting each appliance precisely to your bite so it actually does its job, night after night.
Cost and Membership
A custom appliance costs more than a drugstore version, but it fits better, lasts longer, and actually protects your teeth. We give you an itemized estimate before anything is made. No surprises.
We are out of network with the dental PPOs, yet we still file your claim so your benefits apply, and out-of-network PPO coverage often pays a good portion of covered services. For households without insurance, our in-house "D is for Dental" membership saves 20% on treatment. See membership plans →
Nightguard and TMJ Questions
Where do Novato patients go for a custom nightguard?
Novato patients reach us with a straight drive south on Highway 101 to 1099 D Street in downtown San Rafael, where Dr. Steve fits custom nightguards and TMJ splints. Whether you are near Old Town Novato on Grant Avenue or out by Vintage Oaks, the freeway carries you the whole way. Call (415) 453-0744 to get fitted.
Is a custom nightguard better than an over-the-counter one?
Yes. Boil-and-bite guards from the drugstore sit loosely and often get pushed out during the night. A custom nightguard is built from a precise impression of your bite, so it is comfortable, durable, and stays in place, giving real protection against grinding rather than a rough approximation.
Can a nightguard help with TMJ and jaw pain?
A TMJ splint is designed to reposition the jaw and decompress the joint, which can ease morning jaw soreness, tension, and related headaches for many patients. Dr. Steve evaluates your bite and symptoms to recommend the right appliance, and the short trip down 101 is worth that personal attention.
Do you take my insurance if I live in Novato?
We are out of network with the dental PPOs, but we still bill your plan directly so your benefits apply. Out-of-network PPO coverage often pays a good portion of covered services. If you do not carry insurance, our in-house D is for Dental membership takes 20% off restorative & major work, and we give you an itemized estimate before any appliance is made.
Request Your Appointment
Tell us what you need and we'll reach out within one business day. Prefer to talk now? Call (415) 453-0744.
Protect Your Teeth and Jaw
New patients from Novato are always welcome. We'll reach out within one business day.