I hear you on the cost thing—it's definitely a tough pill to swallow. I've seen patients who've tried ignoring it altogether, and honestly, some do okay for a while... but others end up with more serious issues down the line (think cracked teeth or chronic headaches). I get anxious just thinking about those possibilities. Your dentist-made guard sounds like a solid investment, even if it stings upfront. Glad it's helping you sleep better, at least—that's a big win in my book.
Have you checked if your insurance covers any part of it? Sometimes they chip in, especially if your dentist notes it's medically necessary. I ignored mine for a couple years thinking it wasn't a big deal... ended up with a cracked molar and needed a crown. Not fun, trust me. If the dentist-made guard is too pricey, have you looked into custom-fit online options? They're cheaper but still way better than drugstore ones. Might be worth a shot.
Yikes, cracked molar sounds like a nightmare...and an expensive one at that. I've been grinding my teeth forever and kept thinking it was just stress or something temporary. But lately, my jaw's been feeling super stiff in the mornings, which makes me think it's probably time to stop ignoring it (ugh).
I did look into the dentist-made guard, but holy cow, the price tag made me grind my teeth even more! 😂 Haven't checked insurance coverage yet though—good call on that. And yeah, I've heard mixed things about those drugstore ones being bulky and uncomfortable. Maybe I'll give the custom-fit online ones a shot; definitely sounds like a decent middle ground between breaking the bank and cracking my teeth.
Thanks for sharing your experience—it actually helps knowing I'm not alone in this tooth-grinding saga. Fingers crossed I catch it before I end up needing crowns or something equally dramatic...
I get the hesitation about dentist-made guards, they're definitely pricey. But honestly, I've tried those custom-fit online ones, and while they're cheaper, mine didn't hold up too well over time. It started wearing down after a few months, and I ended up replacing it anyway. You might still save in the long run, but just something to consider if durability matters to you...might be worth checking your insurance first before ruling out the dentist completely.
Totally get your concerns about the dentist-made mouth guards being pricey—I was pretty anxious about it myself when my dentist first brought it up. But after looking into it more, I realized ignoring teeth grinding can actually lead to bigger (and way more expensive) issues down the line...like cracked teeth or jaw pain. I tried one of those cheaper online custom-fit ones too, and while mine lasted a bit longer than yours, it just never felt quite right. I constantly worried whether it was doing enough to protect my teeth.
In the end, I went ahead with the dentist-fitted guard. Insurance covered more than I expected, which was a huge relief. Definitely second your advice on checking insurance coverage first—it might ease some anxiety about costs. Either way, you're totally valid in weighing these options carefully...teeth stuff can be stressful!
