Diagnosed with Bruxism? Here are Your Options
It may have been a shock to hear you’ve been grinding your teeth, but you’re not alone. It is estimated that nearly 1 in 3 people suffers from bruxism. Now that you’re aware of this issue, you’re probably wondering what happens next.
Night guards are a key tool in preventing further damage caused by bruxism. There are three common ways to go about getting a guard. Here are your options:
Boil-and-Bite Guard
This kind of guard is available over the counter at your local drug store or pharmacy. When you purchase a boil-and-bite guard, you’ll return home to drop the guard material into boiling water or heat it up in the microwave. This makes the guard malleable and able to form to the shape your teeth.
Here are some things to consider when choosing this kind of guard:
- These products are the most cost-effective option, typically priced at $15-30, making them a great way to try out guards.
- Boil-and-Bite guards are one-size-fits-all. As a result, they can feel bulky and may not perfectly fit the size and shape of your teeth.
- It may take multiple tries to get it right. You can sometimes continue to reheat the guard to re-adapt it to fit better, but generally, after two or three times, it could begin affecting the material.
- These guards are often made of soft materials, which are required for the boil-and-bite process, and are not very strong.
- Boil-and-Bite guards usually have a short lifespan of just six months.
Professional, Custom Guard From Your Dentist
Your dentist can help you get a high-quality, customized night guard when you visit their office for an appointment. They’ll take an impression of your teeth and send those impressions to a dental laboratory (just like our lab here at enCore.) Later, you’ll return to your dentist to try out the guard and ensure the fit is good to go.
Here are some things to consider when choosing this kind of guard:
- Working with your dentist is often the most expensive route for getting a night guard, costing anywhere between $300 to $1000!
- Your dentist will work with a professional lab that utilizes strong, high-quality materials and ensure that the correct thickness is selected for your particular case.
- These guards will be thermoformed and fully customized to the teeth they’re made to. Heat cured acrylic guards are customized to the teeth as well as the opposing jaw.
- Thermoformed guards have a lengthy lifespan, and won’t need to be replaced for 1-3 years.
Professional, Custom Guard From enCore
enCore labs can provide you with the same high-quality, customized night guard you would get from your dentist, without any need for appointments or office visits. We send you an impression kit that’s easy to use right at home. We use your impressions to create your night guard here at our laboratory. In about one week, you’ll have your new guard in hand.
Here are some things to consider when choosing this kind of guard:
- enCore guards strike balance between quality and price.
- We utilize the same strong, high-quality materials that you’ll see in a dentist-ordered guard. We also make it easy to learn more about the different guard thickness levels and find the style that is right for you.
- Our guards will be thermoformed using the impressions you send us and fully customized to your unique teeth.
- enCore customers can expect to use their guard for 1-3 years, the same lifespan as a dentist-ordered guard.
