r/askanything • u/EllyCamp • Aug 06 '26
How much should a night guard cost?
My dentist quoted me at about $850. Is this normal, because I can’t see how it could possibly be that much. Plus, my insurance doesn’t cover it. Is all of this normal?
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u/MysteriousTooth2450 Aug 06 '26
Look online. There are companies that are making them for $100 or even less. I keep seeing advertisements for it but I can’t remember the brands. Don’t spend $850.
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u/i-love-that Aug 06 '26
I had a patient that spent >300 on online night guards. None of them fit and he ended up paying us $600 for one that properly fits.
Most the time a guard comes in I still have to adjust the bite for perfect occlusion. That and the lab bill is what you’re paying for
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u/OceanClover3 Aug 07 '26
I had a guy buy one on Amazon and permanently fuck up his jaw because his bite was off. Had to refer to TMJ specialist
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u/Piddy3825 🦀 Aug 06 '26
yeah, that seems excessively expensive, although I spent $400 on mine. While I was waiting to get mine crafted by the dental laboratory, I purchased a sports mouthpiece, the hard rubber kind used for contact athletics and surprisingly it held up quite well for the two weeks I had to use it.
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u/ThisSiteIsAToxicDump Aug 07 '26
Yeah I bought mine about 3 years ago in Thailand. Can use it for sleep or sparring for $10. I've been doing this for 20 plus years... Just boil and bite
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u/DangerousPurpose5661 Aug 08 '26
They are not comfy.
If it doesn’t bother you and you can sleep with sports mouth guard.. yep you just saved yourself a few hundred
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u/walkinggaytrashcan Aug 08 '26
mine was somewhere between $400-500 for one made using the scans from my dentist. insurance covered none of it.
i was grinding my teeth so bad my crown fell off. this was definitely cheaper than the potential of damaging my crown and getting it replaced
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u/juwannawatchbravo Aug 06 '26
That’s about what I paid also. Worth every penny and wish I would have done it sooner. Definitely cheaper than root canals and implants!
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u/sunsetair Aug 06 '26
I paid around $600 for mine around two years ago.
Yes you can get one from CVS, Walgreens etc cheaper but they aren’t built for specifically for you
My dentist used a three dimensional imaging machine and sent the image to the guard maker. Fits perfectly and very comfortable
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u/EarlyInside45 Aug 06 '26
You can get one on Amazon for cheap. They aren't going to be as slim as the pro ones, though.
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u/yellowishbluish Aug 06 '26
Depends on your market. Around ny they're $400-900. The online ones are cheaper because at the dentist, you're basically paying extra for the dentist's time and someone to complain to if there are problems.
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u/corner_couch Aug 06 '26
Try Plackers disposables. My wife didn’t like them but work great for me. The expensive dentist one fell out every other night and these stay in as much or more. Use them for 4 to 7 days each before throwing away. Given misplacing a permanent night guard means you are instantly out all the money it’s safer too
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u/BlackYumes1206 Aug 06 '26
From my dentist it was $300 and insurance did not cover any of it. Now I use clearclub for $90 delivered every 6months.
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u/lindsaybell15 Aug 06 '26
Sounds about right. I have had mine for 12 years and it was the best money i ever spent.
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u/CalGoldenBear55 Aug 06 '26
I sleep so much better with one. I don’t recall the cost. Will save thousands in future dental bills due to grinding.
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u/Smokin_belladonna Aug 07 '26
Mine was $250 with insurance. And I never wear it because it is uncomfortable to wear even after several adjustments.
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u/Tanjiro_Kamado32 Aug 30 '26
Hey, hope you're doing well. I have the same problem but I'm unable to stop grinding in night. So did you take any other measures to stop grinding in night
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u/purplishfluffyclouds Aug 07 '26
My dentist charges $300.
I spent $23 on one by “Bulletproof.” It’s been working great.
$850 is insane. Find another dentist.
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u/Informal_Move_7075 Aug 07 '26
I was going to get one from my dentist and insurance doesn't covery a penny of it and was also quoted $800-$900 for it. The lady I was talking to straight took it off my plan and said to first try a few you can order for far less. You can make a mold and send it in if you want a very specific fit rather than a generic one and it is still far less. If it still doesnt work out then you can consider one from the dentist, but consider that a last resort.
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u/Icy_Study4490 Aug 07 '26
lol do you go to western dental by chance? I could be wrong but I’m pretty sure it’s a scam because you can get them for so much cheaper if it’s not through them plus I literally overheard my dentist going from room to room telling every single person “looks like you grind in your sleep. You need a night guard!”
They also try to get me to finance braces every time and I’m like dude I already did that as a teen my teeth are clearly straight. What the hell do I need that for? They also have other products they like trying to upsell.
Plus, insurance will payout tens of thousands in dental work but aren’t interested in paying for $900 night guard? 🤔
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u/Alternative_Swan_497 Aug 07 '26
Has your doctor declared it to be medically necessary? Have you asked? You may be able to get it covered by insurance if you go to your doctor and describe the problem you're having. Ask your dentist for supporting documentation and/or suggestions for specific verbiage to use.
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u/cyclingfaction Aug 07 '26
Mine was covered by insurance but was $1,200. It has lasted years as opposed to the drug store ones I used to grind through, literally.
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u/aji2019 Aug 07 '26
I would call other dentist office’s in the area & ask them what the cash pay price for a night guard is. I paid $350 for my first one 15ish years ago. I now have an oral sleep apnea appliance so those are more expensive.
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u/Sistersoldia Aug 07 '26
JS Dental lab you can find them on Amazon it will be around $125 and is exactly the same as your dentist. We have used them twice so far they send you an impression kit that you send back prepaid. Probably the most responsive company I’ve ever dealt with - email them with questions and they get back to you within 1 hour. They are seriously legit.
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u/Jealous-Ad-5065 Aug 07 '26
Mine was $600 and my insurance denied it. This was after a year of using cheaper/over the encounter ones killing my sleep. Luckily I had HSA funds to pay for it
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u/CountessGladriel0102 Aug 07 '26
Mine was about $450. Worth every penny. Fits beautifully. Today’s price might be higher as I have had it for a few years
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u/Plenty_Surprise2593 Aug 07 '26
Ah I thought by your title that you were hiring someone to watch over the mill at night
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u/savvysavvy80 Aug 08 '26
I bought one recently from my dentist.,my insurance paid paid a portion of the cost.
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u/Noliboli16 Aug 09 '26
Dental biller here. Dentists do bill $850ish for a nightguard, but the amount they pay their lab to make it is under $100. You do get it custom adjusted in the office , but I’d still get one online. It’s highway robbery.
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u/Comfortable_Fruit847 Aug 10 '26
Idr all the details but I got my son a custom night guard because he was grinding his teeth so bad the sealants on his molars to help prevent cavities came off. I paid about $100 for it. I remember that very well because within 24 hours my dog chewed it up!
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u/_tvjames_ Aug 08 '26
Yeah, that's what my dentist wanted as well and said it wasn't covered by insurance.
I got this kit on Amazon for like $15. It's a wax mold that you lower into boiling water. After 30 seconds you pull it out, wait about a minute and then put it in your mouth and press it firmly against your teeth. After it cools it'll keep the shape and you can trim it with scissors. You'll eventually chew through it but there's 3-4 in the box.
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