A removable dental mandrel guard comprising a collar portion extending from a first open end to a transition region, which may include a first tapered portion, the transition region reducing from a first to a second interior diameter; a shaft guard extending from a first end rigidly connected to the transition region to a second end rigidly connected to the disc shield and having interior cross section defining the second interior diameter; a disc shield having opposed first and second transverse walls, each with a partially enclosed perimeter edge joined by coextensive edge wall extending from a first edge point to a second edge point, the interiors of the first and second transverse walls and edge wall defining a disc cavity; a continuous open seam extending longitudinally from the collar portion first open end to the shaft guard second end.