Custom nightguards

How do I know if I need to wear a nightguard?

Nightguards protect your teeth against the harmful effects of teeth grinding at night times. If you grind your teeth at nights, then you should consider wearing a nightguard. Many of us grind our teeth while we sleep without even knowing about it. How can you tell if you're a nighttime grinder? Here are a few signs of nighttime teeth grinding:

  • You've been told that you grind your teeth when asleep
  • Frequent, unexplained headaches, especially in the mornings
  • A history of repeatedly breaking your teeth, fillings, crowns, and other dental restorations
  • A pattern of wear and flattening of teeth which indicates that you grind your teeth

The last sign is the one dentists usually look for when evaluating if you grind your teeth. If you suspect that you are grinding your teeth you need to be evaluated by your dentist. Talk to your dentist to determine if you are a nighttime grinder. Your dentist will help you decide if you're a candidate for wearing a nightguard. They will also help you figure out which type of nightguard is best for your needs.

A MUST FOR HEAVY TEETH GRINDERS

What are the benefits of wearing a custom nightguard?

custom-night-guardNightguards protect your teeth against the harmful effects of teeth grinding. There are two basic types of nightguards:

  • Over-the-counter nightguards: You can buy these nightguards from your local drug store or online. Simply follow the instructions to fit these nightguards to your teeth and start using them right away.
  • Custom nightguards: Custom nightguards are made by your dentist using impressions or scans of your teeth. While more expensive, custom nightguards are much more comfortable to wear. They are also calibrated to your bite so they do a better job of protecting your teeth and TMJ.

Mild teeth grinders do just fine wearing an over-the-counter nightguard. On the other hand, heavy teeth grinders should always wear a custom nightguard. There are plenty of benefits to wearing a custom nightguard over an OTC variant, for instance:

  • Better fit: Custom nightguards are made precisely to fit your mouth. This makes them easier to wear, which is a great advantage given the fact that you have to wear your nightguard for 6 to 8 hours a day!
  • More effective: Custom nightguards are more effective at protecting your teeth and TMJ given their accurate fit and calibrated bite.
  • Longer lasting: Finally, custom nightguards last much longer than over-the-counter ones since they are made from higher quality material.

Nightguard-calibration

Custom nightguards always come with the support and guidance of your local dentist. Your dentist will verify that your nightguard is a precise fit to your teeth. They will calibrate your bite to ensure that your bite forces are distributed equally. This ensures that your nightguard provides the best support and protection for your teeth and TMJ.

How much do custom nightguards typically cost?

Custom nightguards are not inexpensive. They usually cost a few hundred dollars, which is significantly more than what over-the-counter nightguards cost. The reason they are expensive is because there is quite a bit of labor that goes into making a custom nightguard. First, your dentist needs to take impressions or scans of your teeth. Then they need to send these impressions or scans to the lab where the technician makes your nightguard. Finally, your dentist needs to adjust the nightguard to make it fit to your mouth. As you can see, there's a lot of time and effort that goes into designing a custom nightguard. Of course, you get a much better end product that is usually worth the extra bucks.

Purchasing a custom nightguard is a worthwhile investment for those of you who need one. A single broken tooth can set you back thousands-of-dollars. Wearing a custom nightguard can prevent these accidents from happening. Just be sure to wear your nightguard every night. Keep it in a safe place away from pets and children. If you correctly don't have a dentist, you can use our dentist Search Engine to find one. Click on the link below to find a great dentist near you and get started with your new custom nightguard today: