Table of contents
- Factors That Affect Night Guard Cost
- Night Guard Cost: A Breakdown
- Over-the-Counter Night Guards
- Custom Night Guards from a Dentist
- At-Home Custom Night Guards
- Additional Costs
- Why You Should Invest in a Night Guard
- Protection Against Teeth Grinding
- Relief from Jaw Pain and TMJ Symptoms
- Prevention of Sleep Disruptions
- Affordable Solution for Bruxism
- Conclusion
- FAQs
How much does a night guard cost? Experience with the different factors that may affect night guard costs can provide you with information to make a proper decision and choose the best option for your oral health condition.
This blog we will go over various types of dental night guards, cost implications of night guards, factors that influence the price of night guards, and pricing out of pocket options. Rushing to get a dental night guard is a serious decision that should be made with an understanding of both what financial commitment is being shared and the potential benefits it will hold for the health of your mouth.
What Is a Dental Night Guard?
A dental night guard is a mouth appliance that is designed for that purpose, to protect the patient's teeth against nighttime teeth grinding (bruxism) and teeth clenching, which are very common in sleepers' lives. Night guards function by obturating between your upper and lower teeth, thereby reducing tooth attrition, fracture, and masticatory muscle tension. They can be also used to reduce pain resulting from TMJ disorders, a condition present in the jaw joint and adjacent muscles.
Dental practitioners suggest night guards to patients suffering from teeth grinding or symptoms such as jaw pain, headache, or facial discomfort. Bruxism, if uncontrolled, can cause serious prosthodontic problems including abrasion of enamel, sensitization of tooth structure, and ultimately avulsion and loss of teeth.
While teeth grinding can happen at any age, it is particularly common in adults due to stress, anxiety, or certain lifestyle habits. For those with children or teenagers experiencing teeth grinding, a dental night guard can serve as an effective preventive measure to avoid damage to their developing teeth.
Factors That Affect Night Guard Cost
When you’re considering purchasing a dental night guard, several factors will influence the night guard cost. Knowing what these factors are will enable you to assess what kind of mill for your requirements and your pocket of money.
Type of Night Guard
The choice of night guard will have a direct bearing on the cost. There are generally three types of night guards available:
a. Boil-and-Bite Night Guards
These are over-the-counter, ready-made night guards that you mold at home by boiling the guard in water and then biting down on it to create a custom fit. Although this is the cheapest choice, it might not offer the same feeling of comfort or resistance than the custom-made guards have.
Cost: $20 to $60
Boil-and-bite night guards can be a good option for individuals with mild bruxism who don’t want to invest in a custom solution immediately. However, they can be uncomfortable for long-term use and may need to be replaced more frequently compared to custom-made options.
b. Custom Night Guards from a Dentist
Bespoke mouth night guards are uniquely fitted to the mouth by a dentist. This option involves taking impressions of your teeth, which are sent to a lab to create a guard that fits your teeth perfectly. These types of guards are typically made from strong materials such as acrylic or hard plastic and offer an excellent barrier against tooth clenching and jaw pain.
Cost: $300 to $800 (or more, depending on materials and dentist fees)
Custom-made night guards are the most expensive option. Because they are so accurate and fit to the individual, the high cost is representative of the cost of their specialization. This choice is commonly suggested to patients with high bruxism or patients with TMJ disorders since it is possible to adjust the guard to achieve the best relief.
c. At-Home Custom Night Guards
At-home custom night guards are an affordable middle ground. These guards are typically ordered online and involve taking your dental impressions at home using a simple kit provided by the manufacturer. The mold is sent to a lab, where your custom guard is created and delivered to you. ALIGNERCO provides an economical solution to custom-fabricated night guards starting at $153. With this option, there is the advantage of a custom individual fit at a much cheaper price than it would be with a visit to a dentist’s office.
Cost: $150 to $200
At-home custom night guards offer the tailored advantage of a custom guard at an affordable price. You can take your dental impressions in the comfort of your home and avoid the high costs associated with dentist visits.
Material Quality
Material grade and thus the price are also important dependent factors on the quality of materials used in the manufacturing of the dental night guard. Night guards made from durable, high-quality materials will typically cost more, but they offer better comfort and longevity. Common materials for night guards include:
Soft materials: Flexible night guards, are soft and usually are prescribed in mild grinding teeth cases. They are less hard and can become worn out with time but they are cheaper.
Hard materials: Hard night guards, usually made from acrylic or other durable plastics, are ideal for individuals who experience severe teeth grinding. However, these guards are more costly, but are built to last longer, and offer better protection.
Dual laminate: These night guards are composed of soft and hard materials. The inner layer is soft for comfort, and the outer layer is hard for toughness. This type of night guard tends to be pricier but offers the best of both worlds.
Lab Fees and Professional Costs
If you choose to have your dental night guard custom-made by a dentist, the cost will be influenced by the lab fees and professional charges associated with taking impressions and creating the guard. These costs can vary depending on your location, the dentist’s office, and the complexity of your dental needs.
Cost: Lab fees typically range from $100 to $300, contributing to the overall cost of a dentist-made night guard.
Insurance Coverage
Most dental insurance plans provide some limited coverage for dental night guards, especially once a diagnosed case of teeth grinding or TMJ is established. Coverage may help to lower the overall night guard cost, but how much is covered is different depending on your insurance carrier and plan. Generally, insurance will pay for a percentage of the cost of a custom-fabricated night guard, but you may still have to pay the rest.
Check with your insurance provider to determine whether dental night guards are covered under your plan and what your out-of-pocket costs might be. In certain instances, insurance may cover the cost of a night guard in full or part, if medically necessary.
Night Guard Cost: A Breakdown
Over-the-Counter Night Guards
Cost Range: $20 to $60
Although these are the cheapest existing solutions, the fit and comfort of boil-and-bite night guards may be suboptimal. If you have mild teeth-grinding issues or need a temporary solution, an over-the-counter night guard may work for you. However, they are less robust and performant than custom-fit alternatives.
When the severity of teeth grinding is uncertain, an over-the-counter product may serve as a good first step and you may be able to increase to a custom solution later, if required.
Custom Night Guards from a Dentist
Cost Range: $300 to $800 (or more)
If you choose to get a night guard from a dentist, the cost will be higher. Price includes both the consultation fee and the lab fees as well as professional services associated with the fabrication of a custom-fitted guard. Because of the high quality of materials being used with these guards, there is increased fitting and protection but there is a premium price.
Dentists can also suggest regular checkup visits to check that the guard is fitted correctly and is providing the optimal benefit, which can incur additional costs.
At-Home Custom Night Guards
Cost Range: $150 to $200
If you are looking for a more affordable custom solution, ALIGNERCO offers night guards starting at just $170. These barriers are manufactured from premium materials and are also fitted to your mouth in a customized manner. Just because of ordering online and self-taking seated exposures at home, this option is not only cost-effective but also comfortable. Also, the night guards offered by ALIGNERCO are durable and for long-term use without the high costs incurred by visiting the dentist.
ALIGNERCO's night guards are designed so that they will not only eliminate teeth grinding but also protect your smile at a lower price point than traditional dentist-made guards. The easy, at-home impressions procedure guarantees that you receive a customized guard without having to deal either with difficulties or high costs in repeated visits to the office.
Additional Costs
In certain situations, the night guard may need to be replaced upon it becoming worn down or damaged. The life expectancy of a night guard may differ depending on the material, the frequency of its use, and the extent of its maintenance. If you need to replace your night guard, you may incur additional costs.
A dental night guard often endures for purposes of several months to a couple of years. Even with the best night guard, over time, there can be evidence of wear, and replacement may be required to provide the best possible oral protection.
Why You Should Invest in a Night Guard
The price of a night guard may seem like a big outlay, but long-term cost benefits need to be taken into account. The following are the reasons why an investment in a dental night guard is a smart move:
Protection Against Teeth Grinding
Tooth clenching (bruxism) can cause severe dental problems if left unaddressed. If unprotected, the relentless abrasion can result in enamel thinning, which leads to tooth sensitivity, fractures, and even tooth loss. A night guard acts as a barrier screen between your teeth and thus prevents them from being destroyed due to the grinding.
A night guard can help avoid more expensive dental treatments in the future, including but not limited to crowns, fillings, or root canals, thus representing a good investment for the patient's oral health.
Relief from Jaw Pain and TMJ Symptoms
For individuals suffering from TMJ disorders, a dental night guard can provide much-needed relief from jaw pain, headaches, and facial soreness. The guard lowers the load on the jaw muscles and relieves pain resulting from clenching or grinding while sleeping.
If the deeper cause of TMJ symptoms is addressed, a night guard can help alleviate the symptoms, and stop the root cause from causing problems down the line.
Prevention of Sleep Disruptions
Tooth grinding or clenching tends to happen during sleep and the sound and disturbance of these habits may destroy your sleep. With the help of a night guard, the grinding sounds and the pain can be alleviated, which in turn will allow you to have a good night's rest.
Affordable Solution for Bruxism
Although individually made night guards cost a bit more initially, they can end up costing you less in the long run by preventing the need for more expensive dental work. Furthermore, night guards are reusable and one-time once material is considered, for several months or years of use.
If you’re looking for an affordable custom solution, ALIGNERCO offers a cost-effective option that provides long-lasting protection against bruxism at an affordable price.
Conclusion
The cost of a night guard differs with respect to the model, the material, and whether its custom made by a dentist or bought online. While dentist-made night guards tend to be the most expensive option, there are affordable alternatives available, such as at-home custom night guards, which offer high-quality protection at a lower cost.
If you’re considering a night guard, it’s important to assess your needs, budget, and long-term dental health goals. Whether you select an over-the-counter solution or a solution by custom, a night guard can really protect your teeth from damage, relieve the jaw from muscle tension, and have a good effect on your oral health.
If you're interested in affordable night guards, ALIGNERCO offers high-quality, custom night guards that are both affordable and convenient. Take a look at their website today and learn more to start protecting your teeth from grind and clench effects.
FAQs
1. What is the significant difference between a custom night guard and a boil-and-bite night guard?
A unique night guard is fabricated from impressions of teeth, providing perfectly fit and improved protection. Boil-and-bite guards, on the other hand, are moldable at home but may not provide the same level of comfort or effectiveness as custom options.
2. How long will a dental night guard last?
A dental night guard normally sustains use between 6 months and 3 years, according to material and frequency of use. Soft guards wear out more quickly than hard guards, but with careful maintenance, their service life can be increased.
3. Can a night guard help with TMJ symptoms?
Yes, a night guard can be used to alleviate TMJ symptoms such as jaw aches and headaches, by getting rid of the pressure on the jaw and teeth during sleep due to gnashing and clenching.
4. Are night guards uncomfortable to wear while sleeping?
It could feel strange at the start, but generally, everyone gets used to wearing a night guard after a while. Custom night guards are generally more comfortable, as they are made to fit your teeth precisely.
5. What is the cost of ALIGNERCO's night guard and is it worth it?
ALIGNERCO offers custom night guards starting at $170, providing a cost-effective option compared to dentist-made guards. As they provide excellent value also for grinding and jaw discomfort protection, they are probably a good option in these scenarios.
