Teeth Grinding with retainer?

Johnny Utah

I had my teeth straightened when I was younger and I wear a retainer at night to prevent the teeth from moving.

Recently, my dentist advised me that I needed a new night guard as I tend to grind my teeth at night. The night guard which my dentist provided has to be worn on the top row of teeth, and consequently I am unable to wear my old retainer anymore. Are there any other options? Is it possible to wear a night guard on the lower row of teeth?

ballsymchugh

yes.

Johnny Utah

That's funny because my dentist told me he could only fit a night guard to the top row of teeth.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

A hard night guard will also act as a retainer for the arch its attach to, no need to worry, two birds one stone....

Catari Jaguar

I had a bottom tooth guard, and 3 top ones which I subsequently mangled. Then spent a grand on a bite splint to jar my teeth apart. I got veneers in May and the dentist gave me a simple tooth guard for my top teeth.My back teeth aren't covered by it so I don't grind them and I haven't mangled it.

Johnny Utah

Sincere Poor Sprinter wrote: »

A hard night guard will also act as a retainer for the arch its attach to, no need to worry, two birds one stone....

Yes, this is what my dentist said, but tbh I find the night guard quite uncomfortable to wear. Furthermore, since I started using the new night guard (a few months ago), I think some of my upper teeth have moved inwards.

ballsymchugh

is it a hard or soft splint though? a hard acrylic splint shouldn't allow any drifting

Johnny Utah

ballsymchugh wrote: »

is it a hard or soft splint though? a hard acrylic splint shouldn't allow any drifting

I'm not sure tbh, but I think it's a hard splint and believe me I know the difference between wearing the splint and wearing the retainer at night.

btkm8unsl0w5r4

A Properly fitting hard night guards wont allow any drifting its gripping the teeth front and back in acrylic, it should be more retentive than a hawley or essex retainer, does it look like this...



or is it a thin one ? take a pic and lets see it...

Johnny Utah

No fitzgeme, the splint I have doesn't look like that at all. I will try to get a pic when I get a chance.

day dreamer

It's a bit of a quandry for you because you have 2 appliances to wear but only room in your mouth for 1!

If you had a hard splint it would kill 2 birds with 1 stone or a really tight fitting night guard. An alternative could be a bonded retainer that would let you wear a splint or night guard over it, ask your dentist or orthodontist

Johnny Utah

day dreamer wrote: »

It's a bit of a quandry for you because you have 2 appliances to wear but only room in your mouth for 1!

If you had a hard splint it would kill 2 birds with 1 stone or a really tight fitting night guard. An alternative could be a bonded retainer that would let you wear a splint or night guard over it, ask your dentist or orthodontist

I sent a pic to fitzgeme and it seems I have a soft night guard. Can someone post a pic of a hard splint?



Edit: or is that a hard splint in post #9?

btkm8unsl0w5r4

yep thats a hard one in the pic I posted. Its made of hard plastic like biro plastic not soft gum shiled material.