TMJ night guard

[ceecee]

This sounds like the ones that I use. They are Plackers Grind No More. They cost around $25 for a box of 10. I tried the ones that fit similar to a sports mouth guard, but I could never keep them in all night and I chewed through them in just a couple of weeks. When these get worn down I just throw it away and get a new one from the box. I can tell when I need a new one because I will start waking up with headaches. I have only been able to find them at CVS or online from drugstore.com

Yes, that's the ones.

 

[kldmom2000]

We don't have dental insurance, but last year I paid the $490 for a mouthguard from my dentist for the TMJ. It took some getting used to... in the beginning, I'd wake up without it and have to search the room for it since I was apparently throwing it across the room in my sleep Now I wear it periodically.. when I'm under a lot of stress, etc... and there's a chance I'll be grinding my teeth more at night. When I get a TMJ flare-up, it's quite severe as of late The mouth guard has helped quite a bit!

 

[tink576]

in the beginning, I'd wake up without it and have to search the room for it since I was apparently throwing it across the room in my sleep

Lol! I did that once when I was wearing the guard after having a tooth removed... We found it buried in the closet the next day. I'm still dumbfounded how I got it in there in my sleep.

 

[coastiewifern]

My TMJ symptoms started when I was 16. I've had every treatment know to man. I have the otc bite guards and I would not recommend them. When you get the dentist one, they are custom fit to you. $200-$300 sounds cheap. I had to pay $600!!!!
I paid it because I was having such problems. It worked and helped for a few years but unfortunately I was one of those rare cases that required the TMJ surgery( they went in the side of my face and removed the joint all together)...funny thing is, I had to buy another one after the surgery to protect the other side
Oh well. It' works and I don't have the contant face pressure and headaches.

Also, with insurance, check Both medical and dental. I found that dental covers some things even though TMJ is considered a medical condition.

Yes the cost is $600 but my cost is $171 after insurance. This just started in May and the flare ups have been intermittent and only on my left side. About a month ago I felt my first jaw pop while chewing. A few nights later I woke up and had bit my tongue in my sleep ouch. That took forever to heal. This week I started feeling the pain bilaterally. I can go weeks without any pain at all. I've been under stress but I'm a worry wort so that is common for me

 

[momof1princess]

i got a TMJ splint from an orthodonist over 16 years ago. it looks like a regular orthodontic retainer, such as one would get after having braces removed, but it has been a LIFESAVER. best $250 i ever spent. at the time, my insurance didn't cover any of it, but, my TMJ was so bad, i'd have paid a million dollars to make the pain stop. now, i still hurt a little when i'm under extreme stress, but, after wearing the splint only a couple of weeks, i was able to stop taking muscle relaxers completely, which was HUGE for me, as i was taking 4 a day (the dosage limit) and still had pain.

 

[secretpantssam]

I started having problems about 5 years ago and my insurance also didn't cover it. I tried the ones from the store, but i have kind of a small mouth and they felt like i was going into a boxing match every night. Way too big, I felt like i had a hard time breathing, and it cam out almost every night. I ending up shelling out $300 for the one from the dentist and it was soooo much better! It just snapped in and fit perfectly. I still have it and it still fits great so I think the $300 investment was a good one.

I know it seems like a lot, but it will make you feel better and it will last.

 

[weezyree]

As several have stated, the dentist-made guard is worth it's weight in gold. I have had mine going on three years and while I didn't pay for it because I got the TMJ listed as a true medical condition which then they referred me to an oral surgeon who made it. The insurance company paid for it through the referal in lieu of the general dentist. Dental insurance won't cover it.

I lost the two rear molars on the upper left side from night grinding and ended up with such a bad absess, I thought I had the swine flu. By that night, after a nasal swab to rule out any type of flu, my tooth was throbbing. The oral surgeon wanted to hospitalize me, but my husband was deployed and that wasn't an option with two kids at home.

As soon as I recovered from the one dental implant, I lost the tooth next to it from night griding. I wear my night guard religiously and it helps protect my investment with implants which is far more expensive than a mouth guard.

Best of luck in your decision and hope you find relief with it.

 

[JustCallMeMommy]

I don't think you will regret getting the dentist-made guard. I got my first one when I was 15 and have only replaced in once (I clean it well). At first, I wore it 24/7 until my jaw got used to the new position. Then, I transitioned to night time only. After a while, I was able to use it only for a few days when my jaw "forgets" where it is supposed to go. If it works for you, you are saving a whole lot of aggravation - for me, it cut out jaw pain, jaw cracking/popping, and severe headaches.

 

[jpeppers]

I recently bought a $2 football mouthguard and can see no difference between it and the OTC ones I had been using that cost way more.