If you wake up with a sore jaw or even headaches, or if you notice damage on your teeth, you may be grinding your teeth unconsciously during sleep, which is a condition known as bruxism. A common remedy is to wear a nightguard, but since there are so many choices, the custom vs. generic nightguard debate follows. So, how will you decide which one is right for you? Let’s explore this!
What Are Night Guards?
Night guards are dental devices that are worn during sleep to protect the teeth of patients from the side effects of clenching and grinding. They work as a buffer, thus distributing the pressure from the jaw muscles that are exerted and thereby preventing the damage of teeth.
Dental Night Guards Comparison: Custom vs. Store-Bought
While talking about a night guard, there are two main alternatives that a person has:
Store-Bought Night Guards
These are easily found in pharmacies and are available in two broad forms:
- One-Size-Fits-All: Prefabricated and ready to use, but they tend to be clumsy and might not fit properly.
- Boil-and-Bite: Soaked in hot water and then shaped to your teeth. Although they provide a bit more fit than one-size-fits-all, they remain not as precise as custom-made guards.
Pros:
- Affordability: Usually cheaper than their real counterparts when it comes to price.
- Immediate Availability: You don’t have to; you can buy and use them the same day.
Cons:
- Fit and Comfort: Can be quite large and thus uncomfortable to wear, as well as making it difficult to speak.
- Durability: Made from softer materials than the exoskeleton, these can be easily damaged and thus would need to be replaced more often.
- Effectiveness: Its standard size may not offer enough protection and could cause some damage to the teeth.
Custom-Fitted Night Guards
These are custom-made for your mouth by a dentist in a dental clinic near me. The procedure entails taking accurate impressions of your teeth to provide a perfect fit.
Pros:
- Optimal Fit: It is designed to fit your unique dental anatomy for superior comfort and effectiveness.
- Durability: Made of high-quality materials, they can last several years if well taken care of.
- Comprehensive Protection: Effective at mitigating the risks that come with bruxism like wear on the teeth, fractures, and jaw pain.
Cons:
- Higher Initial Cost: The quality materials and customization make them more costly.
- Production Time: It usually needs several dental visits and a waiting period while the guard is made.
How to Choose The Right Night Guard?
When choosing a custom nightguard over a store-bought one, the following can be helpful to consider:
- Severity of Bruxism: If you have severe grinding or clenching, a custom guard may be needed to protect.
- Budget Constraints: Although custom guards are more expensive than the initial cost, they are more durable and may therefore be more economical in the long run.
- Comfort Preferences: A good-fitting guard will be more likely to be worn regularly, thus offering protection most of the time.
- Dental History: For those with previous dental conditions or existing dental conditions, the fit of a custom guard may be needed to avoid complications.
If you are looking for night guards in Leduc, it is best to have a dental professional confirm that you need one and prescribe the right one for your needs.
Visit A Local Dentist at Suntree Dental
It is an important step in the protection of your dental health to decide between a nightguard that is custom-fitted and one that is bought from the store. At first, the non-prescribed options may appear to be easier and cheaper, but they are usually inadequate when it comes to fit, comfort and durability. Custom night guards are more expensive than the initial purchase, but they are better tailored to your needs to provide superior protection.
Our dentist in Leduc at Suntree Dental will offer personalized dental solutions like nightguards that fit you. Choose wisely and make your dental health a priority.
Call or email us today!