Stop the Grind Before It Costs You a Tooth
If you are in Ross and waking with a sore jaw or worn-down teeth, relief is a short drive east on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard into downtown San Rafael, where we fit custom nightguards and TMJ splints at 1099 D Street. Fitting a guard usually takes only two unhurried visits, the kind you can fold into a day you are already in town for.
Clenching and grinding, what dentists call bruxism, tends to happen while you sleep. It quietly flattens enamel, cracks teeth, and feeds morning jaw soreness and headaches, often for years before the damage becomes obvious. A guard made to your bite catches that early, while it is still a guard and not a crown or an implant.
Every appliance here starts from a precise impression of your own bite, not a bulky tray softened in hot water that drifts out of place by midnight. Dr. Steve matches the appliance to the actual problem, whether that is grinding overnight, jaw strain from a tight joint, or protection during sports.
Three Appliances, One Custom Fit
- Hard nightguard, shields enamel from grinding so the wear stops where it is
- TMJ splint, repositions the jaw to decompress the joint and quiet morning soreness
- Sports guard, a reliable, well-seated fit that drugstore options cannot match
- All three are built to your exact bite, comfortable, durable, and made to stay put
A Guard May Be Worth a Look If You
- Grind or clench your teeth, especially overnight
- Wake with jaw soreness, tightness, or headaches
- Notice teeth that look worn, chipped, or have turned sensitive
- Play sports and want protection that actually stays seated
What the Visit Looks Like
- Evaluation We look at your bite, your wear patterns, and the symptoms you describe, then talk through which appliance fits.
- Precise impression We capture your bite so the finished guard seats exactly the way it should.
- Custom fabrication Your guard or splint is built from durable hard acrylic to your measurements.
- Fit and follow-up We fine-tune the fit and check it at regular visits so it keeps doing its job.
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 one, so he fits each appliance carefully to your bite, with the unhurried pace Ross patients tend to expect, night after night.
Serving Ross
Fitting a guard is not an emergency visit, so it is easy to pair with a trip you are already taking east on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard out of the Ross Valley into downtown San Rafael. We are at 1099 D Street, on the second floor in Suite 206. The first appointment takes the bite impression, the second seats the finished guard, and both are short enough to fold into an afternoon near Ross Common or the Marin Art and Garden Center.
Grinding and jaw tension build up slowly, and they are easy to set aside when life is busy. A short, familiar drive is one less reason to keep putting off the guard that protects your teeth. There is street parking along D Street and the surrounding blocks, plus several public lots a short walk away in downtown San Rafael. You see Dr. Steve at both visits and at every follow-up to check the fit, so the appliance keeps seating correctly and quietly doing its job, night after night.
Cost and Membership
A custom appliance costs more than a drugstore version but 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 all dental PPOs but bill your plan directly, and out-of-network coverage often pays a good portion of covered services. Without insurance, our in-house "D is for Dental" membership saves 20% on treatment, with flexible payment plans. See membership plans →
Ross Nightguard and TMJ Questions
How far is the nightguard and TMJ visit from Ross?
It is a short drive. From Ross you follow Sir Francis Drake Boulevard east out of the Ross Valley into downtown San Rafael, where we sit at 1099 D Street. Whether you are near Ross Common or the Marin Art and Garden Center, it is a quick, familiar route, and fitting a guard usually takes only two short visits.
Is a custom nightguard better than a drugstore one for Ross patients?
Yes. Boil-and-bite guards are bulky, fit loosely, and often get pushed out during the night. We build yours from a precise impression of your bite, so it is comfortable, durable, and stays put, giving real protection against grinding rather than a rough approximation.
Can a nightguard help with my TMJ and jaw pain?
A TMJ splint is designed to reposition the jaw and decompress the joint, which can ease morning soreness, tension, and related headaches for many patients. Dr. Steve looks at your bite and your symptoms before recommending the appliance that fits your situation.
What does a nightguard cost, and do you take my insurance?
We give you an itemized estimate before any guard is made, so there are no surprises. We are out of network with the dental PPOs but bill your plan directly, and out-of-network coverage often pays a good portion of covered services. Without insurance, our in-house D is for Dental membership takes 20% off restorative & major work.
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 Ross are always welcome. We'll reach out within one business day.