Night Guard vs. Retainer: Can One Do Both Jobs?
A retainer holds your teeth in place and a night guard takes the force of grinding. Here's why one rarely does both jobs, what combo appliances cost and what insurance pays.
Read guideGuides to dental products you buy for yourself, including night guards, mouthguards, retainers, and cleaning tools. Each guide covers what the product costs, whether dental insurance helps pay for it, and how to choose between a dentist, an online lab, and a drugstore option.
Start with the Dental Products overview.
A retainer holds your teeth in place and a night guard takes the force of grinding. Here's why one rarely does both jobs, what combo appliances cost and what insurance pays.
Read guideNo treatment switches sleep grinding off for good. Here's what lowers it, what treats a cause, what only protects your teeth, and what each option costs.
Read guideSome Delta Dental plans cover night guards at 50% to 80%, some limit one every five years, and some exclude bruxism appliances entirely. Here is how to tell which you have.
Read guideThe best night guard for teeth grinding depends on how hard you grind. Our picks for heavy grinding, sensitive gums, clenching, and an OTC stopgap, with prices.
Read guideBoil-and-bite ($15 to $50), online custom lab ($95 to $235), or dentist ($300+): how the three night guard routes compare, and which one fits you.
Read guideA night guard runs $15 to $50 at the drugstore, $95 to $235 from an online lab, and $300 to $800+ at the dentist. Here is what drives the price and how to pay less.
Read guideA dentist night guard runs $300 to $800+, an online custom guard $95 to $235, and a drugstore one under $50. See what each is worth, and what dental insurance really covers.
Read guideThe move that gets a night guard covered is a predetermination filed with code D9944 before the guard is made. Here is the full sequence, plus how to appeal a denial.
Read guideWith dental insurance, a night guard usually costs $150 to $500 out of pocket. See three worked examples, why the bill differs from the quote, and the code to ask for.
Read guideSome dental plans cover a night guard at about 50% after the deductible, once every 3 to 5 years. Many basic plans exclude it. Here is why, and how to check your plan.
Read guideMost standard MetLife dental plans exclude night guards by name. Here's the federal exception, and how some group plans have added coverage back.
Read guideClenching is a sustained squeeze, not a scrape. Why a hard guard beats a soft one for clenching, what thickness actually buys you, and what insurance pays.
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