Dec
23
The Purpose of TMJagony.com
ByThe purpose of www.TMJagony.com is to provide an area where information on Temporo Mandibular Joint Disorder can be provided and discussed.
Hello, I am Harold C. Avila, DDS, MS one of several orthodontists in Muncie Anderson and Montpelier Indiana. I have Evaluated and Cared for over 600 patients having varied TMD symptoms with a good deal of success.
Use the comment area below for questions or topics you would like to discuss.
Hi, I have recently had to purchase a overnight teeth guard, but the thing was incredably expensive. Do you know of an alternative option?
Hello Dennis, there are some options available to you–you need to know something first. There are two main ways of making overnight teeth guards, one way uses positive pressure (compressed air) and the other way uses negative pressure (vacuum). The machines using compressed air provide the best teeth guards. The most common compressed air machine is called “Bio-Star”–retail cost is $3,500 compared to vacuum (aka “suck down”) machines which retail for about $700. Orthodontists are more likely to use a Bio-Star because it is marketed to Orthodontists and Dental Labs.
With that piece of information, the options available to you include calling around to find the best price for a nightguard. You should be able to find one for $150 or maybe as low as $75, hopefully made with a Bio-Star. This is expensive compared to the $5 bite down nightguards you can buy at WalMart but worth it. The bite down nightguards are not recommended because the chewing surface will not be smooth–it will have an imprint of the opposing teeth–making it more likely you will clench during the nighttime increasing your pain.
I am curious, what did you pay for your nightguard?