Dental "deprogrammers' -- do they work?

[esquel]

I recently got a dental deprogrammer, after my dentist had told me for the last 2 years that I grind my teeth. For anyone who has never heard of these things before, the dentist will take an impression of your teeth like they were fitting you for dentures. In a couple of weeks time, you will be presented with a custom fitted plastic insert that snaps over your teeth and theoretically will protect your teeth from if you grit them while you sleep.

My problems with it are as follows:
Despite being made for me, it is not very comfortable
I may have to wear it at night for the rest of my life
It cost nearly $300
How do I confirm that it is doing what it is supposed to do?

This last issue is the one that really concerns me. I only have the word of my dentist that I grind my teeth at night. I know I snore occasionally and other detriments to good sleep, but how can I confirm that I do in fact grind my teeth, and that this plastic thingie is protecting my teeth and jaw from further damage? I've asked several of my friends, and about half of them have been told the same thing and their dentist recommends they get fitted for one of these. I have trouble believing that so many people have the same problem and that it's not just the dentist fishing for fast cash. It's hard to prove a negative; how can I confirm that this expensive chunk of plastic is doing what it claims?

 

[madurobob]

My dentist showed me where my bottom front teeth we grinding off at an angle and where the backs of my upper front teeth were wearing. It was pretty obvious in my case. You should ask for/demand similar evidence.

And, BTW, the first dentist who prescribed this said it would cost $750. I waited 18 months and saw another dentist and it was $275. Even that seemed way overpriced for what it was, but I figured what the heck - insurance is covering it.

ETA: and after a week or two, if felt weird sleeping without it! These days, I only use it every few days - usually when I've had too much coffee during the day.

ETAII: I've since seen them online for $50/pop. Google Dr. Brux Night Guard.

 

[casebro]

Or for $2 you can go to a sporting good store and buy a mouth guard, as sold to football players and martial artists.

I tried one once, but almost drowned from the flowing saliva- I guess I think anything in my mouth is food.

 

[madurobob]

Or for $2 you can go to a sporting good store and buy a mouth guard, as sold to football players and martial artists.

I tried one once, but almost drowned from the flowing saliva- I guess I think anything in my mouth is food.

Yup - I box. But, mouthguards make me drool, too. All the sporting mouthguards I've used wrap over your upper teeth and gums. The device from the dentists, tho, goes over the lower teeth and do not extend below the gum line. Somehow that equates to no drooling for me.

 

[Soapy Sam]

If you grind your teeth, you may wake up with sore jaws. You may even dream of doing it.
Ask anyone who happens to share your bed. They'll know if you do.

 

[madurobob]

If you grind your teeth, you may wake up with sore jaws. You may even dream of doing it.
Ask anyone who happens to share your bed. They'll know if you do.

Y'know, when mine was prescribed I checked w/my girlfriend who said she noticed nothing. I never awoke with a sore jaw, either.

Bu, I did start paying more attention to what I was doing with my teeth and figured out I wasn't grinding my teeth much at all while asleep, I was doing while awake! Riding my motorcycle a bit too aggressively - teeth clenched. Felling a tree in the back yard - teeth clenched. Chopping vegetables for soup - teeth clenched. It seems that was a behavior I used to help focus. Simply realizing that saved my teeth.

 

[tesscaline]

Y'know, when mine was prescribed I checked w/my girlfriend who said she noticed nothing. I never awoke with a sore jaw, either.

Bu, I did start paying more attention to what I was doing with my teeth and figured out I wasn't grinding my teeth much at all while asleep, I was doing while awake! Riding my motorcycle a bit too aggressively - teeth clenched. Felling a tree in the back yard - teeth clenched. Chopping vegetables for soup - teeth clenched. It seems that was a behavior I used to help focus. Simply realizing that saved my teeth.

It seems to be taken for granted that when someone grinds their teeth, they do it while asleep. Doctors (and anyone else for that matter) never bother to ask about whether or not you clench or grind your teeth while you're awake.

Personally, the majority of my tooth grinding activities take place while I'm wide awake. I have a chronic pain disorder, so whenever I'm doing something that exacerbates that problem I find myself setting my jaw and biting down hard. If I'm trying to concentrate, I also do similar. If I'm angry, I do it so hard that my jaw hurts.

The only thing I've found that helps me stop that is chewing gum, or otherwise keeping my jaw occupied (eating, smoking, chewing a pencil, etc.). Does anyone have any suggestions on other things I could try, since being mentally aware of it and forcing myself to stop through will power doesn't seem to be doing the job?

 

[Silly Green Monkey]

I chew my cheek constantly.

 

[sthomson]

My husband grinds his teeth in his sleep from time to time, and it took me 4 years or cohabitating to catch him doing it.

He hasn't gotten a guard yet but I assume eventually the damage will be noticeable enough to scare the dentist.

 

[Grimoire]

Or for $2 you can go to a sporting good store and buy a mouth guard, as sold to football players and martial artists.

I tried one once, but almost drowned from the flowing saliva- I guess I think anything in my mouth is food.

My wife has one of those expensive dentist created mouth guards. I couldn't really tell the difference from any mouth guard I had purchased for myself for sports.