Budget Dental

[DisMN]

This was a HUGE savings! I wear a mouth guard at night because I grind my teeth. According to the dentist people "have to" buy the custom high priced mouth guards or they'll make their situation worse.

I'm here to tell you bulltoots!

I am needing a new mouth guard so asked my dentist how much they were costing these days. He gave me quotes from a "low" $250 all the way up to $1000.



Not gonna happen. Besides, I'm now of the opinion that lots of *required* dental and medical stuff is just meant to pad their pockets.....with MY money. LOL

So about 6 weeks ago, I'm at Dollar Tree and notice mouthguards over by the tooth care area. Bought a couple and have been using them quite successfully ever since!! As a matter of fact these are far more comfortable, far more flexible and far easier to clean than my expensive one!! The Dollar Tree mouth guards are working great for me...all my reasons for wearing one are being helped!

What a nice surprise this has been.

Let's see now....a minimum of $250 or $1?? Hm......

 

[Marionnette]

This was a HUGE savings! I wear a mouth guard at night because I grind my teeth. According to the dentist people "have to" buy the custom high priced mouth guards or they'll make their situation worse.

I'm here to tell you bulltoots!

I am needing a new mouth guard so asked my dentist how much they were costing these days. He gave me quotes from a "low" $250 all the way up to $1000.



Not gonna happen. Besides, I'm now of the opinion that lots of *required* dental and medical stuff is just meant to pad their pockets.....with MY money. LOL

So about 6 weeks ago, I'm at Dollar Tree and notice mouthguards over by the tooth care area. Bought a couple and have been using them quite successfully ever since!! As a matter of fact these are far more comfortable, far more flexible and far easier to clean than my expensive one!! The Dollar Tree mouth guards are working great for me...all my reasons for wearing one are being helped!

What a nice surprise this has been.

Let's see now....a minimum of $250 or $1?? Hm......

Even the most educated physician does not treat himself. I think it may be pennywise and pound foolish to think that a dollar store appliance is in any measure a suitable substitute for the custom mouthpiece that your dentist recommends. But its your mouth.

 

[DisMN]

Even the most educated physician does not treat himself. I think it may be pennywise and pound foolish to think that a dollar store appliance is in any measure a suitable substitute for the custom mouthpiece that your dentist recommends. But its your mouth.

Thanks mom!

Like I said, it's doing the job I needed it for, and better than the expensive one did. I'm not even a teensy bit worried.

Now if the thing were heavy duty large profile...but it's not. It's a very simple thing and as it sits right now I'm very happy with it.

 

[Riverhill]

I spent $450 on my night guard on the advice of my dentist. About a year later he admitted that the thing was just giving me a smooth surface to grind on. I now have arthritis in my jaw. About 2 years ago he suggested a new version that just separates the front teeth. I rejected his opinion. Since then I make it a point of sleeping on my back and relaxing before I sleep. (I use to sleep on my side all curled up and my hand below my chin forcing my jaw closed.) It has been much better. No more waking up with pain.

Do what works for you

 

[Gr8t Fan]

I hope it continues to work for you. DH had a custom-made mouthguard that was guaranteed for life if he brought it in before it broke. He brought it in religiously, it still broke, and the dentist said he needed a new one which would cost another $450. We found a moldable plastic one at Sports Authority for $2 and he's been using it ever since.

 

[angwill]

I use the disposable ones at Walgreens when they are on sale. I use them till I wear them out of shape and then toss them. I will have to check out Dollar tree so thanks for the info.

I am wearing the store bought dental guard per my denist. He said if I want to pay him $250 for a night guard he will gladly take my money but it is no better than the ones you buy cheap over the counter. In fact while he had me in braces he told me I could only use the cheap ones because it would work better in allowing my teeth to go into place since the bite is only on the back teeth with the cheap version vs all the teeth with the dental version. I love my dentist because he is honest and straight forward about things.

It is my mouth and I am not a fool to buy an overpriced appliance that even my dentist claims is not needed. Some dentists may feel different so it is up to the buyer to beware.

 

[DisMN]

I hope it continues to work for you. DH had a custom-made mouthguard that was guaranteed for life if he brought it in before it broke. He brought it in religiously, it still broke, and the dentist said he needed a new one which would cost another $450. We found a moldable plastic one at Sports Authority for $2 and he's been using it ever since.

That's what I'm talkin' about. LOL
Glad you found an inexpensive one to use too!! For me, so far so good. It's been over a month now and I'm very satisfied with my cheapo!

 

[angwill]

Another warning is to keep your guard out of reach of dogs. Something about them attracts dogs to want to chew them apart.

 

[disneyfan2kids]

When I was younger, I paid about $450 for a "special" mouthguard. Everytime my TMJ would act up, I'd wear it for a week or 2...and the pain would go away. Then I lost that guard.

The pain usually comes back once or twice per year. I've since switched to $1 mouth pieces that I dispose of after using for a week or two. No difference...the $1 one helps the pain go away exactly as the $450 one did.

 

[Lilo&Stitch]

wow I would have never thought to check the dollar store ! thanks so much for the info !!

 

[Carina]

Do you wear it for grinding?
My dentist said I need on to create more space in my jaw joint ( its very tight and the cause of MANY headaches)

I would love to save money but did not know guards could be bought OTC

I'm in Canada, so would not have the same dollar store as you, but even if I could find it at a pharmacy I would be laughing.

my extendended medical covers $350(ish) of the $400 (ish) so it's not a huge deal for me but if I could find one in the $5-10 range.....

 

[bumbershoot]

I love my dentist because he is honest and straight forward about things.

I love your dentist too.


I was thinking about getting one of these from my dentist's office...but instead I got back under regular chiropractic care. Takes care of the problem for me (for me it's tension coming up from my upper cervical vertebrae that makes my TM joint too tight...take care of the problem, gets rid of the symptoms).

 

[angwill]

I love your dentist too.


I was thinking about getting one of these from my dentist's office...but instead I got back under regular chiropractic care. Takes care of the problem for me (for me it's tension coming up from my upper cervical vertebrae that makes my TM joint too tight...take care of the problem, gets rid of the symptoms).

I love my chiropractor too because he has a similar approach that my dentist does. He tells me to see him only till I feel better because it is not right for me to come just to pay his car payment for him if I don't need it.
Sadly, my adjustments have never helped my TMJ teeth grinding issues though. Actually, my chiropractor sells over the counter night guards in his office. lol