NIGHT GUARD FOR TEETH GRINDING (BRUXISM)

Chriskavo

Is their any Dentists out there that can provide Night Guard for my teeth grinding at a reasonable price?. I recently received a quote for 200EUR which i think is very exorbitant. Is their any cures for this and have you any advice on how to alleviate this problem.

johnmurphy2010

the correct term for what you are looking for is a "bruxism splint". Unfortunately, the cost of such devices are all in and around 100-200 euro. You can choose to shop around, or just bite the bullet and be done with it.

day dreamer

Chris

I will try to keep things civil. I agree that some dentists can go off on a rant and I think this does nobody, patients or dentsts any good.

As a general rule there is no cure for grinding and you will appreciate that I cannot be more specific without an examination. It can be related to stress, dysfunction in the muscles of the jaw, derangement in the jaw joint, defective dental work, certain kind of malocclusion or bite problems.

You have ground through the night guard and that is good because otherwise you would have ground through enamel or crowns or fillings etc. It needs to be replaced if you grind through it. 200 is not a bad price because the dentist would have to do an examination to ensure that it is the right thing to do, take impressions, pay the lab to make it, fit and adjust it. Most importantly the dentist would then take responsibility for it or any adverse effects, this is why you would have to pay 200 and I feel that is as low as you will get

Chriskavo

johnmurphy2010 wrote: »

the correct term for what you are looking for is a "bruxism splint". Unfortunately, the cost of such devices are all in and around 100-200 euro. You can choose to shop around, or just bite the bullet and be done with it.

Thanks John - I have no problem paying 100 EUR as opposed to 200EUR. Think I will shop around or see If their is any second hand ones going for sale in the buy and sell!!:D

Chriskavo

day dreamer wrote: »

Chris

I will try to keep things civil. I agree that some dentists can go off on a rant and I think this does nobody, patients or dentsts any good.

As a general rule there is no cure for grinding and you will appreciate that I cannot be more specific without an examination. It can be related to stress, dysfunction in the muscles of the jaw, derangement in the jaw joint, defective dental work, certain kind of malocclusion or bite problems.

You have ground through the night guard and that is good because otherwise you would have ground through enamel or crowns or fillings etc. It needs to be replaced if you grind through it. 200 is not a bad price because the dentist would have to do an examination to ensure that it is the right thing to do, take impressions, pay the lab to make it, fit and adjust it. Most importantly the dentist would then take responsibility for it or any adverse effects, this is why you would have to pay 200 and I feel that is as low as you will get

Thanks Daydreamer - I suppose It is worth it in the long run. Would I get a long time out of the guard?

iMax

Chris - I've had bad brux for coming up on 12 years now (at least that's when it was first brought to my attention. I'm literally sheared the sides of some teeth over the years with a good hard grind.

After having crowns fitted, my splint didn't fit anymore & my dentist recommended a sports guard as a temporary measure to get by a couple of weeks before he could refit me. That was about eight years ago & I've been using them ever since. they're far more comfortable (assuming you take your time & fit it correctly). I buy a new one every six months for about €3.00 & spend time fitting it & I'm really happy with it.

The acrylic one (or whatever it is), was grand, but I'm far happier with this solution

Chriskavo

iMax wrote: »

Chris - I've had bad brux for coming up on 12 years now (at least that's when it was first brought to my attention. I'm literally sheared the sides of some teeth over the years with a good hard grind.

After having crowns fitted, my splint didn't fit anymore & my dentist recommended a sports guard as a temporary measure to get by a couple of weeks before he could refit me. That was about eight years ago & I've been using them ever since. they're far more comfortable (assuming you take your time & fit it correctly). I buy a new one every six months for about €3.00 & spend time fitting it & I'm really happy with it.

The acrylic one (or whatever it is), was grand, but I'm far happier with this solution

Thats great news and for only 3.00EUR! I think I will be taking this much cheaper option. Thanks iMax.;)

iMax

Just make sure you spend enough time fitting it.

Chriskavo

iMax wrote: »

Just make sure you spend enough time fitting it.

I will - Is it difficult to fit?

iMax

INstructions are in it. soak in hot water for a bit, then scald your mouth while you mould it

day dreamer

Hi Chris

You had one in the past but it wore out, the new one will probably last the same time.

Be careful being your own dentist. You would not self diagnose and treat a medical problem I am sure. Will be interesting to see how the sportsguard works but but I would think it will be hard to fit well and if it doesnt fit you wont wear it and if you wont wear it......

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Ok first forget the DIY dentistry.

A soft splint is not a proper splint. The soft polypropylene acts as a shock absorber and is good for sports guards. In the grinding patient (bruxism or parafunction) the soft splints tend to stimulate you to chew on the splint and increases the level of grinding. They do work in the short term ( by increasing the OVD and reducing muscle activity) but long term you need a proper all acrylic night splint.

This is a much fancier and better type of splint. It will last for years and be more comfortable. It is hard clear acrylic. Made on casts of your teeth mounted in a machine called an articulator that simulates how your teeth grind.

There are many designs of these splints. I favor the Michigan type stabilization splint or flat plane splint. It has a special type of grinding pattern built in called anterior guidance which separates most of your teeth when you grind at night, these have been shown to reduce the muscle activity and the intensity of any activity.

The cost between 400 - 1000 euro. I give them for free to patients after extensive dental work. There is considerable work in properly adjusting such a splint and a significant laboratory fee. They will last 5 times longer, don't deform or discolor. In the long term they are a wise investment

This is my opinion, different dentists opinions may vary.

Here is a soft splint = aka bouncy castle



And a proper all acrylic night splint, with a anatomically designed bite and clasp retention. aka proper job




Casts on an articulator...bit dark sorry



Articles
http://faculty.ksu.edu.sa/Alaqeel/DEH%20420%20Lectures/Bite%20Splints.pdf
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10445474

Chriskavo

day dreamer wrote: »

Hi Chris

You had one in the past but it wore out, the new one will probably last the same time.

Be careful being your own dentist. You would not self diagnose and treat a medical problem I am sure. Will be interesting to see how the sportsguard works but but I would think it will be hard to fit well and if it doesnt fit you wont wear it and if you wont wear it......

Thanks dreamer for your advice - I will give it a try and if it proves too awkward then I will invest in a Bruxism splint.

Chriskavo

Ok first forget the DIY dentistry.

A soft splint is not a proper splint. The soft polypropylene acts as a shock absorber and is good for sports guards. In the grinding patient (bruxism or parafunction) the soft splints tend to stimulate you to chew on the splint and increases the level of grinding. They do work in the short term ( but increasing the OVD and reducing muscle activity) but long term you need a proper all acrylic night splint.

Thanks very much for that very detailed reply. I will invest in a splint but their is no way I can afford between 400- 1000 EUR with my mortgage! Ideally I would like one for between 100 - 200EUR. I currently have a soft 'bouncy castle' splint which is beginning to wear. Thanks again for that post.

thegen

I have a good acrylic nite bite and it cost 350.00. This was after I had dropped the one I was using for the previous ten years. That was three years ago otherwise I would probably be on my 1st one.

Piriz

Chriskavo wrote: »

Thanks John - I have no problem paying 100 EUR as opposed to 200EUR. Think I will shop around or see If their is any second hand ones going for sale in the buy and sell!!:D

haha funniest thing i've read on boards in weeks!!
i use a bleaching tray, specifically made for my mouth, had the strong acrylic one but i lost it on holidays, start using the bleaching tray, and its much better.
After using the acrylic one my mouth seemed deformed every morning and my bite was off...hated it! bleaching tray FTW!! less cumbersome too!

Buy and sell haha:D classic!

Chriskavo

Piriz wrote: »

haha funniest thing i've read on boards in weeks!!
i use a bleaching tray, specifically made for my mouth, had the strong acrylic one but i lost it on holidays, start using the bleaching tray, and its much better.
After using the acrylic one my mouth seemed deformed every morning and my bite was off...hated it! bleaching tray FTW!! less cumbersome too!

Buy and sell haha:D classic!

Thanks for that mate - where do I get a bleaching tray? How much does it cost?

Piriz

Chriskavo wrote: »

Thanks for that mate - where do I get a bleaching tray? How much does it cost?

got it from my dentist, tray and two tubes of whitening bleach, 120euro.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Bleach trays are too thin to use as grinding appliances.

Piriz

the one i have been using is working great so far so good, it keeps a film of material between all my top and bottom teeth which eliminates any contact, abrasion etc.
the tray is in great condition with no wear, the night guard i did have was distorting my mouth, my bite was off in the morning and i had a tense jaw in the morning too.
I'm happy using the tray now.

I don't agree its too thin, as the thicker guard was disrupting the bio mechanics of my jaw and the meeting of the teeth, this is my finding anyway, i liken it to closing a sock in a door and closing a slipper in a door, which one is putting more pressure on the frame and hinges? if the tray keeps the teeth from contacting each other and grinding during sleep it is stopping any wearing of enamel and doing its job. It may not be best for everyone but can you agree with how it works for me?
i will not wear one of the guards again, i've never been happier to lose something.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Piriz I can agree you feel more comfortable now but thats most likely because your old splint was not properly adjusted. As above I post 3 of the numerous studies that show that soft splints are not good for parafunction patients. I think we can agree to disagree

Piriz

i read through some of the links, im happy to agree to disagree:)
i found the guard comfortable when placed into my mouth at night but my mouth was left 'off' by the morning, so i think it fit ok but just didn't work for me.
anyway i'll bring it up with my dentist next visit..
I guess i was just telling my story, I don't want to be giving advice which may be bad advice for someone else's teeth. Listen to the professionals folks!
in fact it was the buy & sell joke that made me reply!

georgieporgy

Fitzgme is right when he says bruxist appliances should be hard ( for long term use) but I wonder if the bleach tray works because,being thin, it feels hard as the teeth on which it rests act as a firm base. Sports guards are thick lumps of rubber and are unsuitable for nighttime wear, they exacerbate the bruxist tendency.

But maybe the bleach tray could be considered a hybrid and therefore works in some cases?

Chriskavo

georgieporgy wrote: »

Fitzgme is right when he says bruxist appliances should be hard ( for long term use) but I wonder if the bleach tray works because,being thin, it feels hard as the teeth on which it rests act as a firm base. Sports guards are thick lumps of rubber and are unsuitable for nighttime wear, they exacerbate the bruxist tendency.

But maybe the bleach tray could be considered a hybrid and therefore works in some cases?

Thanks for your opinion.

margam1

MY 6 year old daughter grinds her teeth should I address this problem (actually is it a problem: will it effect her teeth) or is she too young

Marie

day dreamer

Marie

I wouldnt worry too much about your 6 year old. 6 year olds tend to grind and wear their baby incisors as the teeth get close to falling out around 6 years old.

margam1

THANKS Daydreamer that's good to know .... This is why i love this site

Marie

nicolasa

Interesting thread... I had been grinding teeth for the last 10 years or so and I've always got my mouth guards done in U.S. after sending them an imprint of my teeth in a mold. They fitted perfectly, were comfortable and used to last me a good couple of years and .... very important, they were around 70 dollars. Late this past Summer, my dentist told me that I could have one for life for 250 euro. She promised it wouldn't get to smell or change colour and it would last forever! So obviously I was sold. I followed her instructions of using a cleaner every single night before use and obviously after brushing my teeth... and result? less than 6 months later it stinks, it's darkened (even blackened in one spot!) and I brought it back to her asking her what was all that about and she said that wasn't bad at all. That it was normal!!! because it's doing its job... she couldn't find a bad smell coming from it either!!! My hubby even can smell it, it's that bad!! By the way, I am a teetotaler and I don't smoke so... really!! what a waste! It's going to the bin as soon as I get a replacement!! Together with my faith for dentists!!!! aye, never again! spread the word, don't waste your hard earned cash! good luck everyone!

davo10

Nightgaurds are made from an acrylic which is odourless, poor oral hygiene and cleaning of th guard can lead to a biofilm forming.

nicolasa

Poor reading skills can lead to not useful comments

I Do look after my teeth and mouth guards very well, as a matter of fact others have lasted a good couple of years. Thanks for your input

davo10

nicolasa wrote: »

Poor reading skills can lead to not useful comments

I Do look after my teeth and mouth guards very well, as a matter of fact others have lasted a good couple of years. Thanks for your input

Your welcome.

I've made hundreds of night guards over the last 25 years, the only ones that I've seen that are in bad condition are the ones that were poorly maintained and/or the patients who fit them in over poorly cleaned teeth. Again, the material used to made splints is a thermoplastic, odourless material, it's the biofilm buildup which causes the odour you describe.

nicolasa

So basically you are assuming that my dentist gave me one made of that thermoplastic you happen to use and that it's my fault... very professional... if i feel like it i might post a picture of my mouth guard then you could tell me again how much of a piggy I am... I won't insist in me cleaning my teeth properly, i have never had to go to a dentist till now... lucky me!
I just think some dentists are there for the money and not a care in the world about the patient. Btw my dentist told me to clean it with warm water and retainer brite, now i'm after reading somewhere it shouldn't be cleaned with warm water just cold... oh well...
Bless you and thank you again!

btkm8unsl0w5r4

Thermoplastic is fairly stable but some splints are acrylic. Also sometime the dentist relines the splint with acrylic. They can pick up some discoloration but I have not seen them get maloudourous. The discoloration is unsightly but does not disrupt function. Return to you dentist and see what's going on. I never recommend and heat when cleaning it ruins both acrylic and the Thermoplastic, that could be the issue making the splint permeable.