why are dental night guards so expensive?

Question

My dentists wants to charge me over 500 dollars for a night guard. It is just a piece of plastic. Why so much?

Answer 1

I agree that $500 is a bit steep for an occlusal guard...and I don't believe it is a covered insurance benefit.

You could always call around and get quotes from other dentists in your area and have it made elsewhere.

The ones you purchase at pharmacies, etc... are less expensive, but they are not personally detailed as those made by a dental lab.

Good Luck~

Answer 2

Dental night guards are custom made for your teeth and the pattern in which your jaw moves. Sure, you can buy one from the drug store shelf but it will not have the same effect as one made specifically for you.

If you're grinding your teeth or have headaches when you wake up, you may have a serious problem with your TMJ (temporal mandibular joint) -- the ball & grove joint that hinges near your ears. That's when a custom night guard is needed.

Yeah, $500 stinks. But a custom night guard is made by professionals. That means not everyone can do it -- it takes a lot of training to make one correctly. A poorly made one can actually do more harm than good. Also, consider the fact that the fees pay for the dentist, his/her building & utilities, the dental assistant, the office staff, the laboratory technicians, the materials, etc.

Just like buying a car, you can get one cheaper from the private owner down the street than you can from a dealer. Why? The car dealer has to pay overhead...

My advice...if you're having problems with your teeth/TMJ/headaches, take your lumps and pay the fee. Yep, that sucks.

Answer 3

Occlusal Guard Price

Answer 4

My dentist recommended I get a dental guard, too. I actually agree with him that I need one, as I can see the wear on my teeth and know that I grind them. However, I didn't get the guard because insurance won't pay for it and I didn't want to pay the $400 (est.) I was quoted for it. I solved the problem by going back to using the retainers I wore when I had braces as an adult-they never allowed my teeth to touch. I wonder if you could try the suggestion someone else gave and use a sports mouth guard?

Answer 5

Occlusal Guard Cost

Answer 6

It's a little more than just plastic. They put a goo tray in your mouth to make a mold of your teeth. from that they make a clay(or something) mold of your top and bottom teeth. from that they finally make your plastic night guard. so maybe that long process really costs as much as they're charging, but doubt it.
another reason it's so expensive is because a lot of people will pay for it. I mean, what's 500 to ensure your teeth, that is, unless you want ground down stubs for teeth.
They also might be counting on your insurance to pay for it. Maybe if your insurance won't cover it or you don't have ensurance, they'll lower the price.
Over all I say it's worth it to have one.
does the 20$ one last as long as the 500$ one?

Answer 7

Sadly, the dentist's wholesale cost of the night guard (the guard is made by a dental lab) is a very small fraction of the patient price. The bottom line - the dentist makes a very 'nice' profit at $500.

You might want to ask the dentist for a copy of the lab's invoice. That will 'piss him/her off'!

Answer 8

Oh, brother! What a bunch of lame answers!!
The fee includes a custom-made appliance from an expert lab. It fits your teeth only, unlike things you buy in a drug store. It can end up permanently changing the occlusion of your teeth.

It also includes follow-up visits to make sure it is working properly and fits exactly.

I wonder how many of the responders would complain about an artificial limb that cost a lot. After all, that's just a "piece of plastic" too.

Answer 9

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Answer 10

That's an interesting question!