Nightguard for teethgrinding. Dentist or online?

PhilE

So I've recently turned to private dentistry after ongoing NHS nightmares.

He's told me that I need a hard night guard for teeth grinding, which will cost me £500.

Now that's a lot of money for a bit of plastic. I've seen them advertised online, companies claiming that you can bypass the dentist and get one directly form them, for slightly more than half the price. They send you a kit to get an imprint of your teeth, they make the guard based on that.

Any thoughts and experience appreciated.

brook2jack

It’s illegal for a company to provide you with a night grinding appliance. It has to be prescribed and fitted by a dentist. All dental lab technicians have to be registered , by law, with the GDC . Their scope of practice is on page 9 here https://www.gdc-uk.org/api/files/Scope%20of%20Practice%20September%202013.pdf



Impressions are not easy , especially when you are just sent “one size fits all trays” and an accurate fit and adjustment is essential.

A wrongly fitted and adjusted appliance can make the problem much much worse.

For £500 I would imagine you will be getting a chrome or similar night guard rather than just a plain lower plastic night guard.

Toothsmith

As Brook said, I would be very surprised if JUST the bite guard is costing you £500.

Have you lumped in the initial examination, the hygienist visit and maybe a filling or two as well?

But also as Brook says, the online ones are illegal in this country, and almost certainly worse than doing nothing.

misterbarlow

my wife needs one of these for the same thing, and her dentist charged her around £65...

brook2jack

There are various types of biteguard varying from simple plastic , to complex chrome cobalt , to fit in the ear types.

Costs vary from £45 ish to £600 plus.

People with severe clenching or grinding problems can break through “normal “ biteguards in days.

Some people need biteguards combined with snoring appliances and again these will Be from £350 upwards.

Toothsmith

There is a new device called a Cerezen as well - which is something that fits in your ears rather than your mouth. Initial reports of it are pretty good - but it is something at the dearer end of the treatment costs too.

I'm always a bit of a 'late adopter' of things like this!! I like to see other people's experiences of them first.

But nothing remotely like that could be available 'online' from anybody.

teezie

My dentist recommended one to me and said that she charges about £265 (privately which was cheaper than NHS which made it band 3 treatment), I found one in boots for about £25 that you warm in the microwave and mould to your teeth then run under cold water to harden it up ( http://www.boots.com/dentek-night-guard-one-size-fits-all-10087339 ). Next time I went she just asked if I was using one (not where i'd got it) and advised me to wear it every night.

I've since stopped getting jaw ache, tension headaches and sleep a lot better - saying that I couldn't sleep in it very well when I had a cold/blocked sinuses as that would mean I had to sleep with my partially mouth open, which wasn't as comfy.
Worth trying a cheaper one for a month or two to see if it works/that you can actually sleep in it IMO, rather than say paying £500 and finding out you can't wear it.

Toothsmith

teezie wrote: »

Worth trying a cheaper one for a month or two to see if it works/that you can actually sleep in it IMO, rather than say paying £500 and finding out you can't wear it.

The point of paying to get a proper one made (Apart from the fact it's far more likely to work) is that it's also far more likely to fit & be comfortable. Plus - if it isn't, there will be follow up care that would try and adjust it for you so that it is.

Toothsmith

It is also worth pointing out that you could try the various exercises for jaw problems too.

http://www.pat.nhs.uk/gps-and-partners/Joint%20Pain%20Leaflet.pdf

In your case teezie, it's perfectly possible that the exercises alone might have relieved the problem.

If people are contemplating buying bite guards that aren't custom made - I would suggest giving these exercises a go first - as at least they are unlikely to make matters worse. And they are free!

If the exercises help - but don't resolve the problem, then a dentist made custom bite guard would be the place to go next.