Custom vs Over-the-Counter Night Guards

We don’t have to tell you that Canadians are more stressed out than ever. Work has been taking a larger and larger amount of our time and energy, and that increased stress is obvious in the condition of our teeth! Sleep bruxism, or nighttime teeth-grinding, is on the rise in Canada, and even young adults and teens are beginning to need night guards to protect their teeth.

Night guards are moulded plastic bite plates that fit over the top teeth and prevent patients from grinding their teeth together. The night guard protects the teeth by preventing tooth-to-tooth contact which greatly reduces the risk of chipping and other damage. But if all you need to protect your teeth is a layer of cheap plastic, why would you bother paying hundreds of dollar for a custom mouthguard from your Calgary dentist?

More Comfort, Better Sleep.

There are two kinds of over-the-counter night guards available, and both of them are extremely cheap. We mean that both in the price-sense and the value-sense. The problem with over-the-counter night guards is that they don’t provide a custom fit. They’re one-size-fits-all, and in order to fit any mouth, these guards are often made very large and bulky. Many patients report difficulty breathing while wearing these guards, and some even begin to experience insomnia. Because of discomfort and poor quality, most patients stop wearing these night guards in under a year.

When you order a custom night guard from your Calgary dentist, it is built to fit your unique mouth and no one else’s. It should fit snugly in your mouth and shouldn’t be a noticeable presence as your breathe and get ready for bed. While a custom night guard will cost you more than the over-the-counter version, most dental health plans provide some coverage for guards, and they last up to 6 years.

If your Calgary dentist recommends that you invest in a night guard, it’s a recommendation to take seriously. We understand that the costs can be daunting, but the over-the-counter guards really are absolutely awful. Fortunately, you don’t need to take our word for it if you don’t want to. Most over-the-counter guards are between $20 - $50, so you can see if it’s a solution that works for you. But if the bulky bite has you struggling to sleep, your local, Calgary dental clinic is here to help!