Night guards are purposed and designed differently than mouth guards. The dentist may offer a particular night guard appliance designed to minimize tooth damage for children and adults who are prone to grinding their teeth during the night. The night guard may be a bite splint or bite plane, depending on the dental use. When participating in sports such as hockey, soccer, basketball, and football, a mouth guard protects the teeth and mouth from injury. In either case, the dentist will custom-fit and mold these appliances to fit the upper or lower teeth properly.