Repairing a broken night-guard

[Bilal Ahmad]

My friend broke her nightguard (it is a device she puts between her
teeth to prevent the teeth from grinding). It is too soon for her
insurance to give her a replacement, and out of pocket it would cost her
over $600.00. Being a student she can't afford it easily, so I am trying
to see if it can be fixed.

I would like to ask any orthodontists seeing this email if it is
acceptable to use a repaired nighguard. (It is broken into two pieces.)
I am thinking that I could repair it with some kind of glue. The
questions that come to my mind are: Is it important to use a certain
glue based on the material of the nightguard? And, are there any glue(s)
that are non-toxic, meaning not harmful after drying and when put in the
mouth for overnight. Any advice, and suggestions would be greatly
appreciated.

Many thanks in advance, and best regards,
Bilal

[it is short for Andrea]

I am not a dentist or medical professional, but I do wear a nightguard similar
to your friend's. The dentist who made it for me told me if ever it does
break, just to bring it in and he'd fix it for me. We never discussed cost,
but I have a feeling it will not be a lot, if anything, to have her dentist fix
it for her.

If it got thin over time from use, her dentist can also apply a new layer of
plastic to build it up in thickness. This avoids having to have a new mold
made and the old splint is good to use again after. I have already had this
done once and my dentist told me he can keep doing this for me as it wears.

Hope this helps! Maybe you'll get more advice from the real experts around
here. :)

Best regards,
LadyAndy2 in Los Angeles, CA (remove "nospam" to reply)

[carabelli]

"Bilal Ahmad" <bah...@cisco.com> wrote in message
news:3D90ED3C...@cisco.com...
>
> My friend broke her nightguard .............
> I am thinking that I could repair it with some kind of glue.........

It won't work and you will ruin it. I have had appliances brought in that a
DIY repair had been attempted. The appliance could have been repaired
before the DIY attempt but couldn't be after it had been ruined. Explain to
the dentist/ortho you can't afford a replacement and ask if it is
repairable.

carabelli

[carabelli]

"Bilal Ahmad" <bah...@cisco.com> wrote ..........

an E-mail to me regarding this regarding this.

I would say this:

1. If I called an office and was told an appliance was unrepairable, based
on only a phone conversation, I would want to know how this could be
determined over the phone. Assuming that the appliance was not inspected by
the dentist.

2. If I had a biteplate made for myself to prevent damage from
parafunctional activity, how long will the dentist adjust or repair before
charging again (6 hours? 5 years?).

How do the rest of you handle this. Just curious.

carabelli

[Steven Fawks]

And if it is a 'biteplate' it probably needs to be replaced with an NTI
anyway....

:-)
Fawks

[Bilal Ahmad]

Everyone who replied, thanks for your help.

One more question: What do you guys think about the $25 nightguard sold on
drugstore.com? It is called the Doctor's NightGuard. Following is a link to it:

http://www.drugstore.com/qxp75983_333181_SESpider/The_Doctors_NightGuard/Dental_Protector_Medium.htm

Is it worth a try? Or do you think it is useless? Thanks again.

Regards.
Bilal

[Toni]

> One more question: What do you guys think about the $25 nightguard sold on
> drugstore.com? It is called the Doctor's NightGuard. Following is a link
to it:
>

Looks to me like the same thing you can get at a sporting goods store for
$2.99.

Toni, RDH

"Bilal Ahmad" <bah...@cisco.com> wrote in message

news:3D926411...@cisco.com...

[evelyn....@gmail.com]

It is useless. I also bought one on line which apparently molds to the mouth but it did not work-too soft. The hard ones from the dental labs are the ones to use. Don't waste your money.

[wdst...@gmail.com]

> It is useless. I also bought one on line which apparently molds to the mouth but it did not work-too soft. The hard ones from the dental labs are the ones to use. Don't waste your money.

Agreed, but a cheap, soft bought-at-the-drug-store night guard can be very useful as a short-term temporary replacement while your broken made-by-a-dental-lab one is being replaced. Saves your teeth from a week or two of completely ungaurded grinding.

[Steven Bornfeld]

On 10/5/2018 7:23 AM, wdst...@gmail.com wrote:
>> It is useless. I also bought one on line which apparently molds to the mouth but it did not work-too soft. The hard ones from the dental labs are the ones to use. Don't waste your money.
>
> Agreed, but a cheap, soft bought-at-the-drug-store night guard can be very useful as a short-term temporary replacement while your broken made-by-a-dental-lab one is being replaced. Saves your teeth from a week or two of completely ungaurded grinding.
>

That depends upon the indication for the night guard. If it is intended
to prevent breaking teeth, maybe. If the intent is to unload the TM
joints because bruxism is causing muscle spasm, it could well do more
hard than good.
Some are soft on the inside (where they fit over the teeth) and hard on
the smooth surface facing the opposite jaw. I have no problem with
those, but I don't know that they sell those OTC.

Steve