I have been recommending night guards to my valued patients with evidence of tooth wear for over 30 years. I truly believe in the benefit of these guards. To me, they are just as important as brushing, flossing, and fluoride in the water and in toothpaste. Truly.
Now, we certainly have some patients who question the value of our custom night guards over a store bought one. I understand the value of money and how much work it takes to earn that money. Truly I do. I also know the store bought guards do not offer near to protection of our custom guards.
Yes, the store bought guards do offer a rubbery material between the teeth to prevent wear. However, the store bought guards do not protect the back teeth as much as our custom guard does. When you bite with the store bought guard, all the forces are still centered over the molars. That can have a damaging effect on the jaw joint and muscles.
Moreover, the store bought guards, since they are rubbery and compressible, have the effect of increasing muscle activity in the jaw muscles. I invite you to think of the store bought guard as a tennis ball, and our custom guard as a hockey puck. If you had each in your hands, which would be more comforting to squeeze and play with? You get my point. My custom guard actually allows the jaw muscles to relax more, which promotes jaw joint and muscle health.
Our custom guard has the additional advantage of being more durable than the store bought guard. I have had the same guard for over 20 years! Additionally, our custom guard protects the teeth more, which thus prevents or slows down cracks, breaks, and premature failure of dental work. The custom guard is truly worth the investment.
I appreciate your interest in this post. Feel free to peruse the website for more information. Feel free to find out more about us, to find out more about me, the only dentist and the owner of the practice, and feel free to call us for an appointment at (972) 250-2580. Thank you again for your interest.
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