Teeth grinders & night guards

[Imp]

Turns out my teeth are ground down on the outer edges in the back. I sometimes wake up in the middle of the night grinding my teeth, so it all adds up.

My dentist tried to peddle me a $450 custom fit nightguard when I asked about it this past week. My insurance sucks, and will probably cover a bit over half. So, I'm exploring over the counter things. Google's shown me some over-the-counter's for $30-$40. Reviews seem to be hit and miss, but the same goes for custom fit ones.

Care to share your teeth grinding/night guard experiences or recommendations?

 

[sourceninja]

I had a expensive one. I kept spitting it out in my sleep.

 

[moshquerade]

a custom fitted mouth guard like the dentist is trying "to peddle" to you will be the most protective and most comfortable. it is more expensive because it is made from models of your teeth created through taking impressions. there is also lab time put in to it.

you can try any otc mouth guard but if you notice your jaw clicking or feeling out of joint contact your dentist.

 

[strep3241]

I do the same thing in my sleep. My dentist also wanted me to buy a $400 custom guard. I just went and bought one at Walmart. It does the job but it takes time to get used to it.

The one from Walmart also molds to the shape of your teeth.

 

[sourceninja]

Best part. Dentist made boxing mouthguard and the nightguard were identical. Both made from my teeth. The difference was the charge he billed me. One was 80 and the other like 300.

 

[moshquerade]

Best part. Dentist made boxing mouthguard and the nightguard were identical. Both made from my teeth. The difference was the charge he billed me. One was 80 and the other like 300.

i'm going to venture a guess that the mouth guard for sports was made in-office and the night guard was sent out to the lab.

do they seem identical or is the mouth guard for sports thinner, and more flexible?

 

[sourceninja]

As far as I can tell identical. As I can't sleep with the one in my mouth I use both for sports.

 

[Imp]

The quote my dentist gave me was about $250 for the night guard (reasonable), and $150 for the lab fee.

Just did some more googling, seems to be a lot of recommendations for sports mouthguards. However, these are apparently bulky and don't fit well. Over the counter ones sound very hit and miss.

Sigh, might just splurge once my insurance gets back to me. As long as they cover half. Damn teeth...

 

[Anubis]

i have a soft one that im gradually biting through

ill be moving to a hard one at the end of the year after i get another crown

the soft one was cheap 100$ or so the hard one will be more expensive like the Op is talking about

my insurance will cover 90%

 

[blinblue]

Why not get one of the cheap ($20-$30) ones, try it out and see if it works? If you stop grinding your teeth and it is otherwise comfortable, you just saved a big chunk of change.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

love my custom fit one. waaaaay better than the drugstore one. too bad enamel already gone...

 

[Imp]

Why not get one of the cheap ($20-$30) ones, try it out and see if it works? If you stop grinding your teeth and it is otherwise comfortable, you just saved a big chunk of change.

Ya, I probably will. Going out in a bit, and will be passing by a Shoppers Drugmart (drug/corner store chain you Americans...).

 

[nanette1985]

I found that the cheap ones kept me awake & uncomfortable just as much as the expensive one .

 

[punjabiplaya]

got a $35 one from walgreens, works great