Why Your Dental Work Needs Insurance
You have visited your dentist, followed the recommendations and invested time and money into your smile. Maybe you replaced old fillings with new crowns, or finally decided to fill a gap with a bridge. Whatever treatment you chose, you expect it to last for many years.
Just like you buy insurance for a car or a home, your new dental work deserves protection too. In dentistry, that insurance is not a policy on paper. It is a small, custom made device that fits over your teeth and works quietly while you sleep.
What Is A Custom Night Guard
The “insurance policy” your dentist offers is a custom fitted night guard. This clear appliance fits over your upper or lower teeth and is designed to protect them from grinding and clenching, also known as bruxism.
A custom night guard is:
- Made from an impression of your teeth
- Fabricated in a dental laboratory
- Carefully adjusted by your dentist to match your bite
Because it is tailored to your mouth, a custom night guard distributes the forces of grinding more evenly and helps shield your teeth, crowns and bridges from excessive wear.
Why Custom Beats Over The Counter Guards
You may have seen over the counter night guards at the pharmacy and wondered if they are “good enough.” Your dentist’s advice is to be cautious with those.
Over the counter guards:
- Are not made from a precise mold of your teeth
- Cannot be finely adjusted to your bite
- May feel bulky or uncomfortable
- May not provide the same level of protection
Custom night guards, on the other hand, gain their true value from the meticulous adjustments your dentist makes. Those small refinements help the guard fit comfortably, stay in place and work with your bite instead of against it.
Getting Used To Your Night Guard
Most patients adapt to a custom night guard within a couple of nights. At first, it may feel a little strange to have something on your teeth while you sleep, but that sensation usually fades quickly.
A few tips as you adjust:
- Wear the guard every night as directed
- Rinse it with cool water before and after use
- Store it in its case during the day
- Let your dentist know if you notice sore spots or changes in your bite
If you are still having difficulty after several nights, it is important to return to your dentist. A small adjustment can make a big difference in comfort.
How Long Does A Night Guard Last
With normal use and proper care, you can expect a custom night guard to last somewhere between 5 and 15 years. Individual wear patterns vary, especially for people who grind heavily, but in many cases the guard has an impressively long lifespan.
There is one exception that dentists joke about. Many patients report that their dog has chewed or swallowed a night guard left on a nightstand. If you have a curious pet at home, keep your guard safely in its case and out of reach.
A Small Device With Big Long Term Value
After more than four decades in dentistry, many providers view a custom made night guard as one of the most valuable investments a patient can make for long term dental health. It helps protect:
- Natural teeth that are prone to wear or cracking
- New crowns and bridges
- Other restorative work that you want to preserve
While there is an upfront cost, a well made guard can be a very cost effective form of “insurance” compared to repairing or replacing damaged dental work later.
If your dentist recommends a custom night guard, consider it a sign that they are looking out for your long term comfort and the health of your smile, not just the short term fix.
This blog was written by the team at Bucks County Dental Design. We are your home for all general and cosmetic dentistry needs, including routine care, fillings, crowns, bridges, veneers, whitening and more! In practice since 1984, Dr. Mike Spadafora Sr. and Dr. Mike Spadafora Jr. are your local Richboro dentists that you can trust. We are here if you need us!
