Dentist bought mouth guard - is this correct?

seashore22

When I saw my new NHS dentist for the first time 8 months ago she suggested that I may be clenching/grinding my teeth. Now I'm aware of it, it has got worse and I decided to get a mouth guard to protect my teeth at night. I had lost a bit of tooth which had hairline cracks in it, so it was silly to ignore it any longer.

I collected the guard from the dentist yesterday and I'm a little disappointed. I did tolerate it well last night, but it seems a little bulkier than I was expecting and comes a good 5mm over my gum line at the front and more at the back. I've seen pictures of custom made mouth guards online and they seem to fit nicely within the gum line. I'm just looking for a bit of reassurance that what I've got is normal for dentist bought mouth guards. It cost £80.

My dentist seems excellent so far and I'm very happy with my experience at this surgery.

I should probably add that it's one of those flexible clear guards.

Toothsmith

it sounds ok to me - but obviously, I can't see it. They are quite bulky things, and always feel much more bulky on the first few nights with them in.

You should see your dentist, though if you have any real concerns. They are the only ones who can actually see it.

GlasweJen

My husbands a jaw clencher and has a mouth guard, it is quite bulky but it has to be or the force of the teeth pressing against it will damage it.

seashore22

Thanks for replying.

seashore22

Hope these help, although I'm sure they are fine if the replies are anything to go by.

seashore22

seashore22

These are the type of dentist's mouth guard that I'm seeing all over the internet and it threw me a bit.

https://www.osomargueritedental.com/mouthguards-sport-guard/

Toothsmith

seashore22 wrote: »

These are the type of dentist's mouth guard that I'm seeing all over the internet and it threw me a bit.

https://www.osomargueritedental.com/mouthguards-sport-guard/

That isn't a bite guard! That's an orthodontic retainer, or a poorly made whitening tray!!
Yours is what a bite guard should look like. The dangers of googling!!

seashore22

I was wondering if the companies concerned picked the most aesthetically pleasing picture to illustrate their websites. If you Google "mouth guards for teeth clenching" the majority look like the ones I linked to. The articles seemed to be talking about guards for teeth clenching etc, so I was confused about what I should have been expecting to receive.

Thanks so much for taking the time to help. I tolerated the mouth guard for the entire night, so I'm sure it will only get easier.

Toothsmith

It does.

I always tell my patients to wear the mouthguard in the evening as well for the first 2 or 3 nights - that way you are used to the feeling of it in your mouth a bit more by the time it comes to go to bed.

After a few days though, it'll just pop in and feel quite normal.