Night Guard From Dentist: Is It Worth It?

If you think you suffer from bruxism, a night guard from the dentist might be the treatment for you. Now you might be wondering where to start. The purpose of a dental mouth guard for teeth grinders is to lessen the side effects of teeth grinding and clenching. A night guard doesn’t stop bruxism, but it can stop the negative symptoms such as jaw pain, jaw muscle soreness, broken teeth or tooth wear, headaches, and more.

Are Night Guards Worth It?

When you visit your dentist, he or she will be able to tell you whether you need a night guard or not by assessing your teeth for signs of wear. According to the American Dental Association, “Regular dental checkups are important to detect damage in the early stages. Your dentist can diagnose and treat irregular wear on teeth.” But, is a night guard worth the price? What happens to the teeth if bruxism is not treated?

When choosing a treatment option, it can be beneficial to identify the root cause of your grinding. In some cases, bruxism is thought to be caused by sleep apnea (obstruction of the airway resulting in troubled breathing), stress, or certain medications. Taking care of these causes could also take care of your bruxism, so you’ll want to work with your dentist and/or doctor to try to get to the bottom of the cause in addition to protecting your teeth with a mouth guard for grinding teeth.

Cost of a Dental Guard

Custom Night Guard price will vary based on the type of guard you purchase and where you purchase from. The most expensive option is typically a custom-fit night guard bought from your dentist. Your night guard from the dentist may cost anywhere between $400 and $800, and there may be additional charges for multiple office visits. Some insurance plans cover night guards, so this cost could be greatly reduced; check with your dental insurance provider to find out more about your plan’s coverage.

Related Articles:

• Does Dental Insurance Cover Night Guards?
• Homeopathic Remedy For Teeth Grinding
• Upper or Lower Night Guard

Ordering a custom-fit night guard online can save you a lot of money, particularly for people whose insurance doesn’t cover night guards. At Pro Teeth Guard, our mouth guards range from $160-$200. The custom night guards are made from the same high quality and durable materials as the ones from the dentist. They are offered at a fraction of the price because you order directly from the manufacturer.

Over-the-counter night guards can cost as little as $15, which is definitely a money saver. However, dental experts advise against using these as a teeth grinding solution. The materials are not durable, the guard isn’t custom fitted, and they are bulky, which can misalign your bite.

What Happens if You Don’t Treat Your Bruxism?

While you may be concerned about the price of a custom fitted night guard, you may want to consider the consequences of not treating your bruxism. Letting bruxism go untreated may result in the following:

• Tooth Damage: Teeth grinding over an extended period of time can lead to cracked teeth, tooth decay, and even tooth loss. In some cases, this may require extensive dental work to fix such as root canals, veneers, or dentures.
• Jaw Problems: Bruxism can lead to temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) if left untreated. This is accompanied by jaw pain, muscle soreness, headaches, earaches, back pain, and facial pain. TMJ can also be treated with an oral appliance called a splint, but these cost up to $1,000.
• Gum Disease: The pressure created by habitual teeth grinding and clenching can exacerbate gum disease. When the tissues of the teeth are compromised, the gums become more vulnerable to disease. The Arizona Periodontal Group explains that someone with bruxism is “at greater risk of developing [gum disease], and… will see the infection spread more quickly than average”.

Purchasing a high quality night guard is an investment in your oral health. This investment may actually save you from spending more money on restorative dental work in the future.

Your Night Guard Options

There are generally three options when purchasing a night guard:

• A custom fit night guard made at the dentist
• A custom fit night guard you can order online
• An over the counter one size fits all night guard

A dentist mouth guard will be a professionally made custom mouth guard from the dentist’s office. There are different types of night guards depending on the severity of your bruxism. It might be made of hard plastic acrylic, a softer rubbery material, or a hybrid combination of the two. Some night guards made of harder material are made of what’s called thermoplastic. Additionally, custom fit night guards can be fitted to the upper teeth or bottom teeth, depending on personal preference.

Another type of mouthguard is an over the counter night guard. These are the mouthguards you might have worn for sports, but they are not designed to protect your teeth from clenching and grinding. They come in stock “one-size-fits-all” guards or boil-and-bite guards from a drugstore or sports store. Boil-and-bite guards are molded in hot water for some customization, but do not have the durability or comfortability of a custom fitted night guard. An over the counter night guard might save you some time and money, but it won’t protect your teeth as well as a custom-fit night guard.

Custom-fit night guards might cost a little bit more, but because they are designed to fit your mouth perfectly, they’ll do a better job of protecting your teeth, and they’ll probably last longer as well. Surprisingly, you don’t need to visit your dentist to have a custom-fit night guard made; with an at home impression kit, you can take your own impressions and have a perfectly fit night guard delivered right to your home.

Process of Ordering a Custom Fitted Mouthguard From the Dentist

Purchasing a night guard from the dentist is typically a 3 step process. On your first visit, your dentist will take an impression of your teeth for the custom fitted guard. He or she will press putty into your upper or lower teeth. Once the impressions are taken, they will send them to the dental lab for your night guard to be crafted.

On your second visit, the dentist will test the fit of the guard and make sure it is a perfect match. Your dentist may schedule a third visit to give you a chance to test it out at home. When you come in, they may make adjustments as necessary.

Process of Ordering a Custom Fitted Mouthguard Online

When you order a custom night guard online, you receive effectively the same night guard as you get from the dentist. The process involves 3 simple steps:

1. Order the night guard online. You will choose from 4 options: hard night guard, soft night guard, hybrid night guard, or ultra thin daytime guard.
2. An impression kit will be sent to your door with simple instructions to take your own impressions.
3. You will mail the impressions to the professional dental lab fr your custom fit night guard to be crafted.

Related Article:

• How Should a Night Guard Fit?
• What Are Night Guards Made Of?
• Night Guard Impressions

The Bottom Line

Whether you purchase your night guard from your dentist or online from Pro Teeth Guard, you can rest assured that you are receiving the highest quality mouth guard. Because a night guard protects your teeth, it can potentially save you from spending money on more invasive dental procedures in the future. Taking care of your bruxism sooner rather than later can also prevent more serious conditions, such as TMJ. You may be interested in exploring other treatment options for dental care as well such as botox, relaxation techniques, and more.

Shop Now

At Pro Teeth Guard, you can get a professional quality, custom dental night guard by ordering online. You take your impressions with an easy to use home impression kit, and we craft a night guard that’s perfectly fitted to your teeth. We use the same materials and process as a night guard you get at the dentist. To learn more, click here to see how it works.

Sources:

• ADA Writing Staff. (2005). Do You Grind Your Teeth? American Dental Association. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/~/media/ADA/Publications/Files/patient_49.ashx
• AZ Perio Group Writing Staff. (2016). Periodontal Disease and Bruxism. Arizona Periodontal Group. https://www.periodontistphoenix.com/blog/2016/11/03/periodontal-disease-and-bruxism/