Night Guard Cost

• Some people get relief using a football or boxing mouth guard for $3 -$25 from a sporting goods department or store, or online. For example, the Shock Doctor Evermax Mouth Guard by Everlast costs $10 -$16. However, many people find sports mouth guards to be too big, bulky and uncomfortable.
• Do-it-yourself night guards start around $15 -$25, but can cost up to $80 -$250. These range from a boil-and-bite type that is softened by hot water to adapt it to the individual's mouth; to a "custom" guard in which the person uses a kit to make their own dental impression, and then mails that to the manufacturer. For example, the Dental Hygiene Preferred Day/Night Mouth Guard Kit with two (small and large) boil-and-bite mouth guards costs $20 -$30. And NightGuardLab.com offers a variety of do-it-yourself mail-in dental impression kits ranging from $55 for a soft, flexible night guard for light to moderate grinding and clenching, to $176 for a hard acrylic night/day guard for heavy to moderate grinding and clenching.
• Having a dentist custom-fit a night guard can cost $200 -$600 with an average price of $300 -$500, but can be $800 -$1,100, depending on type of materials (soft plastic or hard acrylic), location and the dentist. For example, CostHelper readers report paying $225 -$600 for a custom-fit night guard, at an average cost of $452. The process typically includes an initial office visit to make impressions of both the upper and lower teeth as well as a return visit to fit the fabricated night guard in the patient's mouth. A night guard from a dentist is usually smaller and more closely fitted than over-the-counter or mail-order models.
• Many policies now pay 40%-100% of the costs of having a dentist provide a night guard If there are symptoms of grinding and wear. However, some policies limit how often a night guard can be purchased, like once every four years. Dental insurance typically does not cover over-the-counter or mail-order night guards.

• Bruxism is the official name for grinding, gnashing or clenching the teeth at night; the Mayo Clinic provides an overview of bruxism and treatment guidelines.
• A night guard can be placed on either the top or bottom teeth. If placed on top, the guard cushions the lower teeth and vice versa. Whether a guard is fitted to the top or bottom jaw may depend on the amount and type of dental work in the teeth -- and some dentists have a preference for either the upper or lower position. Most night guards fill the whole mouth; but some fit over the front teeth and keep the back teeth from touching.

• If a custom-made night guard is lost or damaged replacement costs will be the same as having a new one made unless the mold used to create the original night guard is still available. With a usable mold, the cost of replacement may be discounted by as much as 50%. However, dental labs do not store these molds, throwing them away after a short period of time. A few dentists give the molds to their patients to keep, but if major dental work has been done or the teeth have shifted since the mold was created, a new impression and mold may be needed.

• Dental school clinics offer reduced rates for services by supervised students or faculty.
• The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research provides tips for finding low-cost dental care.

• Over-the-counter night guards are available from most drug stores or big box discount stores, or from sites like Amazon or DrugStore.com.
• Search for local dentists through the American Dental Association. WedMD.com lists things to consider when choosing a dentist.

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