Preventive Dentistry
airVata Guard in Sarasota, FL
An airway-conscious night guard, made to fit you from a digital scan.
Luma fits the airVata appliance rather than a generic night guard, because how a guard holds your jaw matters as much as how it protects your teeth. Each one is 3D printed to your own anatomy in medical-grade surgical nylon, with no metal, no acrylic and no bulky plastic to sleep through.
Dentistry Designed Around Whole-Body Health
The Appliance
What an airVata Guard Is
The airVata is a next-generation oral appliance built around a single idea: a guard should protect your teeth without letting your lower jaw settle backward while you sleep. Instead of the smooth, flat surface of a conventional splint, it uses a mandibular support band that links the upper and lower trays and holds the jaw in a stable, forward position through the night. You get the bite protection of a night guard, without giving up the space you breathe through.
- 3D printed from medical-grade surgical nylon, not milled acrylic
- No metal, no screws and no loose hardware anywhere in the appliance
- BPA-free, latex-free and phthalate-free materials
- Low-profile design with far less bulk than a traditional splint
- Designed and manufactured in the United States
- Covered by a five-year limited manufacturer warranty from airVata
The support band comes in small, medium and large so the amount of forward support can be matched to your jaw anatomy rather than applied the same way to everyone. Bands are a wearing part: they soften with use and are replaced every three to six months, which we handle at your regular visits.
The Difference
Why Not a Standard Flat-Plane Night Guard?
A conventional night guard is a flat-plane splint. It does its main job well, shielding enamel from the force of grinding, but it gives the lower jaw a smooth surface to slide on. For some people that allows the jaw to drift backward during sleep, which narrows the space at the back of the throat at exactly the hours it needs to stay open. Your teeth are protected and your airway is not.
Grinding and disordered breathing also travel together more often than most people expect, so a guard that ignores jaw position is a blunt instrument. The airVata keeps the jaw forward instead of letting it fall back, which is why we made it our standard rather than one option among several.
- Protects teeth from clenching and grinding, as any night guard should
- Holds the jaw forward rather than letting it slide back during sleep
- Supports healthy jaw positioning and helps maintain airway space
- Eases the muscle and joint strain that clenching puts on the TMJ
Screened First
Why We Screen Before We Fit
The airVata NG is made for clenching, grinding, tooth wear, tension headaches and TMJ discomfort in people who do not have a diagnosed sleep breathing disorder. That distinction matters, which is why we screen for it before anything is made.
Grinding and disordered breathing travel together more often than most people expect, and a guard fitted to someone with undiagnosed sleep apnea can make the breathing worse rather than better. If your screening raises a flag we will not simply hand you a guard. We refer you for a proper sleep evaluation first and pick the conversation back up once you have an answer.
- Your wear pattern, jaw and airway risk reviewed before anything is made
- Referral for a sleep evaluation if your screening suggests one
- A guard sized to your anatomy and your band size, not a stock appliance
The Process
How Your Guard Is Made
Screening and Scan
We check your bite, your wear pattern and your airway risk, then take a digital scan. No trays, no impression material, nothing to gag on.
Printed to You
Your scan goes to airVata’s US lab, where the appliance is printed to your anatomy and the support band sized for your jaw.
Fit and Follow-Up
We seat it, check the bite and show you how to wear and clean it. Most people settle into it within the first week.
Sports Protection
Custom Sports Guards
Protecting teeth on the field is a different problem from protecting them at night, and it needs a different appliance. A single blow to the mouth can crack a tooth, damage a root or injure the jaw, and a custom guard spreads that impact across the whole arch instead of concentrating it on one or two teeth.
- Custom made from biocompatible materials for a secure, comfortable fit
- Suited to football, basketball, hockey, soccer, martial arts and cycling
- Allows normal breathing and speech during play
- Far better retention and coverage than a boil-and-bite guard
Get Fitted
Protect Your Teeth and Your Airway
Fitting an airVata Guard takes two short visits, one to screen and scan and one to fit. If you wake with a sore jaw, a headache or teeth that are flattening year on year, it is worth finding out which appliance is right for you. Contact our Sarasota office to get started.
airVata Guard FAQ
- What makes an airVata Guard different from a regular night guard?
- A conventional night guard is a flat-plane splint, which protects enamel but lets the lower jaw slide backward while you sleep. The airVata uses a mandibular support band to hold the jaw in a forward position instead, so your teeth are protected without narrowing the space you breathe through.
- What if I might have sleep apnea?
- We screen for it first and refer you for a sleep evaluation before making a night guard. Fitting a guard to someone with undiagnosed apnea can make the breathing worse, so getting an answer comes first. A night guard is not a treatment for sleep apnea.
- What is the airVata made of?
- Medical-grade surgical nylon, 3D printed rather than milled from acrylic. It is BPA-free, latex-free and phthalate-free, and contains no metal, screws or loose hardware. It is designed and manufactured in the United States.
- Do you have to take goopy impressions?
- No. The airVata is made from a digital scan of your teeth, so there are no trays and no impression material.
- Does the support band come in different sizes?
- Yes. Bands come in small, medium and large, and the size is chosen to suit your jaw anatomy and how much forward support you need.
- How long does an airVata Guard last?
- The appliance itself is built to last several years with proper care, and airVata backs it with a five-year limited manufacturer warranty. The support bands are a wearing part and are replaced every three to six months.
- Will it stop me from grinding?
- It will not eliminate the habit. What it does is protect your teeth from the force, support a healthier jaw position and reduce the muscle strain that leaves you sore in the morning.
- Can an airVata Guard help with TMJ pain?
- Often, yes. By absorbing the force of clenching and holding the jaw in a more stable position, it eases the strain that drives a lot of TMJ-related discomfort. If your symptoms are severe or your jaw locks, tell us so we can assess it properly first.
- How do I clean it?
- Brush it gently with a soft toothbrush and a mild, non-abrasive soap, then rinse with cool water, never hot. Store it in its vented case and keep it away from heat, direct sunlight and pets.
- What are the signs I need one?
- Morning jaw soreness, tension headaches, worn or flattening tooth surfaces, tooth sensitivity, or a partner telling you that you grind or snore.
- How many visits does it take?
- Two. One to screen, examine and scan, and one to fit the finished appliance and show you how to wear and care for it.
- Can I use my dental insurance for an airVata Guard?
- Luma is a fee-for-service practice, so we are not contracted with dental insurance plans and we do not bill your insurer directly. You will receive an itemized receipt after your visit that you can submit to your plan if it includes out-of-network benefits. We go over the full cost of your appliance with you before anything begins, so you always know what to expect.
- Do you make sports guards too?
- Yes. Custom sports guards are made separately from your night guard, in a thicker material designed to absorb sudden impact rather than sustained grinding pressure. We recommend one for any child or adult in a contact sport.
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By Appointment Only
By Appointment Only