I totally get the night guard guilt—mine’s basically a $400 paperweight most nights. Had my root canal + crown combo for about six years now, and honestly, it’s way sturdier than I expected. I grind my teeth like it’s an Olympic sport, and that thing is still holding on. Guess the dental anxiety never really goes away, but at least the crown’s tougher than I am. Still, every time I skip the guard, I get that little pang of “what if...” but so far, so good.
Yeah, I feel you on that night guard guilt. Mine just sits in its case most of the time too... I had my root canal and crown done about eight years ago, and honestly, it’s been solid. I grind my teeth like crazy (orthodontist says my bite’s still shifting a bit), but the crown hasn’t budged. Still, every time I skip the guard, I wonder if I’m pushing my luck. At least you’re not alone in the “maybe tonight?” debate.
I’m right there with you on the night guard guilt. I had my root canal and crown done about a year ago, and every time I leave the guard in its case, I get this weird anxiety that I’m going to wake up with a cracked crown or something. My dentist kept saying, “It’ll last as long as you take care of it,” but honestly? Sometimes I just can’t fall asleep with that thing in. Still, reading that yours has lasted eight years even with some grinding gives me a bit of hope. Maybe I’m worrying too much... but the fear is real.
I get that anxiety too—sometimes I lie there debating if I should just get up and put the guard in. I had my crown done about six years ago, and honestly, I was super strict with the night guard at first... then I slacked off. It’s still holding up fine, even with my occasional grinding. I think the guilt is real but maybe we’re both being a bit too hard on ourselves. The dentist warnings stick in your head, right? But a little imperfection in the routine hasn’t wrecked mine—yet, anyway.
The guilt definitely lingers, especially after the dentist gives you that “you really should wear it every night” look. I’m in a similar boat—root canal and crown combo from about five years ago. I was meticulous with the night guard for maybe the first year, then life happened and now it’s more like… when I remember. Still, no major issues so far.
I do wonder if material type makes a difference here. Mine’s zirconia, and it seems to be holding up to my occasional grinding without visible wear. Anyone else notice differences based on what kind of crown you got? Sometimes I think dentists err on the side of caution because they see all the worst-case scenarios, but most people probably aren’t perfect with their routines either.
Curious if anyone’s had tech-based solutions help them stay consistent—like smart reminders or sleep trackers? I keep thinking some kind of app integration would actually make me stick to it better than just guilt alone…
