Mouth Guard for Bruxism

[MadDogz]

Hey All,

I went to the dentist yesterday to have a crown repaired, and also talked to them about my OSA and teeth grinding/clenching. I have not had a problem with it since starting CPAP about a month ago. Anyway, they suggested a mouth guard to be worn at night, the cost of which would be almost $900. I COULD NOT believe that a piece of plastic, molded to my teeth, that my subconscious mind would no doubt treat as a chew toy, would cost that much. I called another dentist and theirs was $400 - still too much, I think.

My question is, does anyone else wear a mouth guard? How much was it? Does it help? I have also read things that say mouth guards just make bruxism worse. Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Terri

[Born Tired]

Terri,
There are others here with the same problem. You can see how some of them handled the problem by searching things like: bruxism, teeth grinding, DIY. Some have made their own mouth guard very cheaply.
Hope you find something on this site that will work for you.
Esther
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[Guest]

I bought a boil and bit mouthpiece from Walmart a few months ago. Created a "tongue shelf" that helps prevent mouthbreathing.
I've been using this everynight and notice that my jaw doesn't ache in the AM .. my bite is also staying aligned.

This mouthpiece cost me about $3.00. It's worth a shot.

YMMV

[Wulfman]

I COULD NOT believe that a piece of plastic, molded to my teeth, that my subconscious mind would no doubt treat as a chew toy, would cost that much. I called another dentist and theirs was $400 - still too much, I think.

I think so, too. You said you haven't had a problem with it since you started CPAP.....so maybe you don't have a problem anymore. Otherwise, I'd suggest starting at the low end of the cost scale (like "Guest" recommended) and see how that goes before supporting your dentist's lifestyle.

Best wishes,

Den

[tlc95066]

Hi Terri,

I have used a mouth guard for about 10 years. I am currenlty on my 2nd one the first one wore out from use. Geez what does that tell you!

Yup, they are expensive, but $900 seems excessive. I just paid about $500 for my new one and it will likely last me 10 years... i am sure that you can do the math. I also have a mouth full of crowns and root canals... yes i put my dentists kids though collage! The $500 that I paid for the new mouth guard is well worth the price if I don't have to replace any crowns at $900 a pop.

My point is the mouthguards from the dentist do last a very long time. The bite and boil ones may work well for you as well... Personally I did not have any luck with the bite and boil mouth guards and believe me I tried!

BTW, your health/dental insurance may pick up a portion of the cost of the mouth guard. Talk to your dentists office to find out what the requirements may be.

At any rate, I wish you luck in finding out which one will work for you!'
Best,
Teri

[Offerocker]

I have BOTH. A little one from the dentist, (ENT?) which clips onto my lower front teeth, is about 3/4" wide, and hard plastic. Now, with this device I can STILL clench all night and get a sore upper.
I purchased a boiler type and LOVE IT! That's the one I use EVERY NIGHT!

[kurtchan]

I've been wearing a guard custom-made by my dentist for more than 10 years now and it's still going strong. I've worn it every night to keep from breaking my dental work and/or from grinding away at my front teeth. It seems to work and, with the advent of my CPAP therapy and having to tape my mouth shut, I'm happier than ever to have it.

Back when I first got the guard, it was $500, so the prices quoted to you don't seem out of line to me. It's all ridiculously expensive for, as others have said, a molded piece of plastic, but if you amortize the cost over the years of use and then factor in the cost of having to replace broken dental work because of grinding, it's probably worth it not to fool around with a dimestore guard.

That said, if you really think that the CPAP has helped to lessen your grinding, I'd check back with the dentist in 6-8 weeks to see if he can notice wear and tear, and then base your guard purchase on that.

Good luck!

Kurtchan

[MadDogz]

Thanks for all of your posts!! Before I had my sleep study I did get a boil and bite mouth guard, and that helped a lot, but then after I had been wearing it for about a week or so, I seemed to be using it for a chew toy, or I'd wake up and it would be on the floor. (I can't imagine I would do that - one of my dogs must have grabbed it out of my mouth and spit it on the floor (haha!)) What is funny, though, is that since I have been on CPAP (only a month) I have not once taken my mask off during the night.

I think right now I am just going to wait and see if I continue to not grind with CPAP and go from there. If I do decide to get one, I will go to a dentist that has more reasonable rates.

Thanks All!!

Terri

[snork1]

I have used the one from the dentist and ones I have made myself, for probably a few decades by now.

Frankly the boil-and-bite ones I made myself for $3 work better than the one my previous dentist made for hundreds of dollars.
Plus I can incororporate a tongue guide into the $3 version to stop mouth leaks.

My current dentist agrees the bruxism guards are highway robbery and encouraged me to give it a shot myself. BUT, I bring it in for my regular every 6 month checkup and he checks the fit and makes suggestions if needed.

A major point to making them is to make them as thin and minimal as possible, whittling away as much excess material as possible.

Search on "DIY" and you should get lots of tips that apply if you are doing it for mouth leaks or bruxism.

Once you hit the $900 mark, you might as well spend a bit more and try a TAP or similar device.

Definitely hop over to a sports store and give a DIY boil and bite guard a shot.

[MadDogz]

I am one of the lucky people who's tongue naturally seals the airway. My lips can be open but no air will leak out.

As I said previously, I do have a boil and bite mouth guard, but I think it ends up being more of a chew toy. I just wanted to see what other people thought, and as I'd figured, all of you have supplied me with WAY better ideas and thoughts than my dentist, and that $900 for a mouth guard is WAY too much!!

Terri

[snork1]

I am one of the lucky people who's tongue naturally seals the airway. My lips can be open but no air will leak out.

As I said previously, I do have a boil and bite mouth guard, but I think it ends up being more of a chew toy. I just wanted to see what other people thought, and as I'd figured, all of you have supplied me with WAY better ideas and thoughts than my dentist, and that $900 for a mouth guard is WAY too much!!

Terri

i am not sure why a $900 mouth guard would be any less of a chew toy than the cheap one you are having problems with now?

[roster]

My dentist told me 18 months ago that I had really ground my teeth down (bruxism). 6 months ago I was diagnosed with severe osa and thinking about my symptoms I am sure that I was at the severe level for the last six years.

I have read that it is pretty conclusive now that some osa sufferers develop bruxism during their tortured nights of trying to breathe and sleep. Personally I think my bruxism came to an end as soon as my cpap therapy became effective. So maybe you no longer have bruxism.

Today at the drug store I saw for $25 a mouthguard called Doctor's Night Guard. It seemed to have a very good guarantee. If you are still concerned about bruxism you may want to try this. I would advise caution about a $900 investment to treat bruxism which you may no longer have.

I think the ADA needs to start a program for sleep apnea. As soon as a dentist spots bruxism he should have a short list of other symptoms to check with the patient. With two or three symptoms checked positive, the dentist should refer the patient to an MD for evaluation of sleep apnea.