Custom Night Guards | Mouth Guards For Teeth Grinding (2024)

FAQs

What type of night guard is best for clenching? ›

In a mechanical sense, an anterior bite guard is the best for jaw clenching because it completely prohibits contact of the posterior teeth. It is also the best for acute pain due to jaw injury because it will be the most efficient at decreasing jaw muscle hyperactivity.

Pros and Cons of a Custom Night Guard

Getting a custom-fitted night guard from your dentist will provide the safest, most accurate fit since it is made specifically for your teeth. Before deciding which type of night guard is best for you, discuss your options with your dentist.

A teeth protector for sleeping does not actually stop you from clenching or grinding your teeth; however, it does shield and cushion the teeth from excessive wear and helps re-establish the natural space between the upper and lower teeth.

Dental mouth guards are expensive because they are custom-made to fit each individual's mouth, requiring specialized materials and labor. The high cost is also due to the quality and durability of the materials used, ensuring long-lasting protection for teeth and jaws.

Soft and Hard Night Guards

If you have a severe bruxism, you will definitely need a hard, strong dental guard. Hard night guards are usually 2-3 mm thick, made of rigid acrylic.

While a nightguard is highly effective, experts warn that sometimes they can worsen the problem, particularly if they are low-quality. Low-quality generic nightguards can be bulky and uncomfortable, which can cause breathing difficulties when sleeping, causing you to grind your teeth even more.

As with most other medical devices, mouth guards do not last forever. This means that you will have to replace your nightguard and get a new one at some point. This is more of an issue in children, as growing teeth will have their mouth shift and grow over time.

In conclusion, choosing between an upper or lower night guard depends on your bruxism patterns. If you experience clenching, an upper night guard is often the better choice. However, a lower night guard may provide more comprehensive protection if you also grind your teeth.

Some night guards are simply made poorly and break easily. Other times, your dentist may have underestimated the severity and frequency of your teeth grinding habit and a night guard that is not strong enough was created.

Your insurance should cover the cost as long as your dentist deems a nightguard medically necessary. Generally, nightguards are anywhere from $300 to $1,000, depending on your dentist, location, oral health concern, and insurance plan.

How much is a custom night guard? ›

Getting a custom-made night guard through a dentist typically costs between $200 and $1,000, depending on your dental insurance situation, with most falling in the $300 to $500 range.

In conclusion, Medicare will cover mouth guards for sleep apnea if they are deemed medically necessary by your doctor. Using a mouth guard for sleep apnea can help improve your sleep quality, reduce daytime fatigue, and may even lower your risk of stroke or heart attack.

Hard night guards are typically better at protecting your teeth, but they are also usually more expensive. Consider the following pros and cons: Pros: More durable, especially for extreme cases of bruxism.

In conclusion, choosing between an upper or lower night guard depends on your bruxism patterns. If you experience clenching, an upper night guard is often the better choice. However, a lower night guard may provide more comprehensive protection if you also grind your teeth.

Some mouthguards also place the jaw in a slightly open position, allowing the masseter muscles (chewing muscles) to relax all night. While they don't cure sleep bruxism, mouthguards can decrease the impact of bruxism, reduce the wear-and-tear of teeth, reduce morning headaches, and improve sleep quality.

Also referred to as a nightguard, bite guard, or bite splint, an occlusal guard is a removable appliance that fits over your upper or lower teeth. It helps prevent damage to your teeth that can be caused by grinding and clenching, a destructive oral habit also known as bruxism.