In the past few months I have had to have a few crowns due to teeth cracking. I'm healthy with no chronic health issues or meds that would be related to teeth issues. Except for fillings as a child I have always had healthy teeth. Never had braces, no one has ever suggest I have braces, get compliments on my teeth from Dentist and normal folks. Dentist says I am showing signs of grinding, excessive bite pressure during sleep. And this is what has caused my otherwise healthy teeth to suddenly have cracks.

One tooth has an old childhood filling that was replaced about 2 yrs ago, a molar and is the most recent victim. The other two next to the lower canines had no fillings or known issues. Due to the two otherwise unaltered and healthy teeth cracking at same time and now this upper molar that had past work on it, she is advising to wear a bite guard at night.

If I go through insurance its a $300 investment out of my pocket. I am looking for a lower cost but effective option. Would love to find a $100 or less option.

Thanks

Bruxism, level expert. Get the one from your dentist, wear it every night until you chew through it. It's way cheaper than crowns.

I buy mine at Walgreens for $20 or so each. They last 6 months plus or minus.

I tried many over the counter versions, but I couldn't find one that worked so I never wore it habitually. After two cracked teeth, one root canal, two crowns, I got one fit by my dentist. It would have been cheaper to start with the dentist bite guard. I now can't sleep without it.

Crowns, cracked teeth, didn’t get guards when I should have. Finally saw the light. Get them from a Dentist. You’ll be sorry if you don’t.

Another question.

Do these stay in the mouth all night or do they usually end up falling out?

Stay in. A tight fit. Usually bottom only, at least for me. I got 2 with mine.

quote:

Originally posted by GA Gator:
I tried many over the counter versions, but I couldn't find one that worked so I never wore it habitually...

I got one fit by my dentist. I now can't sleep without it.

Same. Don't go cheap. The custom one from your dentist is money well spent. Much more comfortable, and more durable.

quote:

Originally posted by rangeme101:
Another question.

Do these stay in the mouth all night or do they usually end up falling out?

Mine stays in all night. It snaps in place over the front six upper teeth.

I've only had it dislodge once, with a particularly violent unexpected open-mouth sneeze that launched it out of my mouth.

I also say go with what your dentist will make. Yeah, you'll get to chomp on a gooey paste for a minute or so, but the very durable end product is well worth it.

I started to have pain in my jaw and teeth, towards the back. I was clinching my jaw at night. Dentist suggested a "night guard", which was custom fitted. Goes on your upper teeth. Dental tech mixed up some goop, pressed it to my upper teeth (the mold) and a short time later I came in for the fitting of the guard. Solved my problem. I wear it every night, quickly scrub it with an old toothbrush & a little hand soap, then rinse it well, when I get up in the morning. I sanitize it with one of those effervescent denture tablets every weekend.

I was fitted for one a year ago, and should have done it 30 years ago. There is one brand that is average density inside, and harder on the outside. That is the best.

If your teeth have worn down, something happens when the teeth touch or almost touch at night, and the body starts bruxing without let up. It may have to do with position of the TMJ, but I am not sure.

My night guard was made for the upper teeth. Once I used the drugstore version once, on the lower teeth. It caused a gag reflex, which I believe was due to the tongue not having sufficient room.
The professionally made night guard does not cause a gag refex.

I wear an upper made of Lexan. It kind of snaps on, stays put.

I wear one, I get the Oral-B brand at CVS or Walmart. It's like a lighter version of a football mouth guard. Works great! It probably cost $15 - $20.

You just heat it up and it molds to your teeth and you can always cut it down if its too big.

Thanks for replies. Guess I’ll start putting some funds together for the “dentist” version, seems to be the way to go.

Meanwhile I’ll try out an OTC version or two suggested here.

Thanks

I have been wearing one for at least 10 years. It was fitted by my dentist. It is over the top teeth. It took awhile to get used to it, but now I don't even notice it. good luck with yours, John

It will probably bother your front teeth the first few times you wear it. Also, you need to run it under hot water before snapping it in.

You get what you pay for in this case. I’ve been wearing a nightguard for 30 years to protect my crowns. My dentist made an impression and custom fit it for my teeth. It felt weird to wear for a few nights but you’ll get accustomed to it. Before long you won’t feel comfortable sleeping w/o it. Your dentist should provide you a soaking solution for sanitizing every few days and other care instructions. Good luck.

It might sound crazy, but it's cheap. I use a regular mouth guard that you would use for any contact sport. You know...the kind you put in boiling water, then put it in your mouth and mildly suck in until it forms to your teeth. I asked my dentist if this was OK and he said that if I could sleep in it, it's fine. I clean it in Polident about once a month or every other month. Been sleeping like that for YEARS...

Again, they're cheap...$4.99 at Walmart.

Get them from here, it’s the same place your dentist (1) buys the mold kits from and (2) has make the guard for them.

https://www.proteethguard.com/...-for-grinding-teeth/

For about 1/4 the price.

As long as you can (1) follow instructions and (2) hold the mold in your mouth for 60 seconds, you’ll do great.

Similar to what RHINOWSO recommended above, I used
https://sentinelmouthguards.com with good service and results. I actually messed up the first impression kit at home, sent them an email asking to buy another, (since it was clearly my fault) and they sent me a new impression kit for free.