I've also tried the SleepRight custom fit night guards and they threw my jaw out of alignment, not to mention made my jaw sore and gave it cuts. It came down to the bite pads just being too thick and the harsh abrasive material used on certain parts (mainly the pivots for the bite pads) and I've tried all the sizes available in my desperate attempt to find something that didn't feel like a hockey puck in my mouth.
Then I run across this one and so far.. 1 week in.. its been working great for me! I seriously don't even feel it in my mouth when I'm sleeping. I have read past reviews with concerns of people fearing they'll swallow it... but I haven't even come close to it so far. If anything, the other ones I've tried sloshed around my mouth more because the "wings" were irritating my mouth. These stayed exactly where they started from the beginning of the night to end. I'll see how they pass up on durability and write a review again maybe in 6 months. Great product as long as durability holds up (the package says each one should hold up to 6 months).
Only thing I might suggest for this product is that it doesn't come with a carrying case. Every other night guard does... even their older model came with it. Luckily they fit perfectly in the case that came with my SleepRight ones.. ironically, even better than the SleepRights fit in there.
PS: Make sure you get the ones with the blue bite pads. They have an older model and I've heard bad things about those.
UPDATE: I ranked it down to 4 stars because upon further usage.. I notice a little discomfort on the bottom of my lower gums. Not too bad and still by far the most comfortable nightguards I've used yet.
UPDATE 2: I've started wearing the guards upside down (having the groove cupping my upper teeth) and it has so far worked out better for me. I got this idea reading elsewhere from someone else doing the same. My gums have yet to get irritated like before and the nightguard stayed in place the whole night.
UPDATE 3: It has been about 2 or 3 weeks since my last update and things are still working perfectly for me. I'm sleeping all the way through the night without being woken up by an uncomfortable mouth piece. So looks like I'll stick with this one. I'm sharing my experience with everyone because I've gone through so many other night guards just to end up spitting them out in the middle of the night just so I can get some sleep. If I can make someone else's decision easier, at least all my sleepless nights (and money down the chute) will not have gone in vain. The main negative thing I notice now.. the notches that keep the sizing in place.. one side seems to not stay in place. It might just be the specific one I'm using (the second pair I have in the package seems to not have this problem), but at the very least.. it hasn't been that big of a problem for me but I can see it maybe being a problem for someone with a small mouth.
UPDATE 4: So I've now been on my third of fourth pair and there is one glaring consistent issue that holds the product back... the night guard has trouble staying at the adjusted size. Hopefully DenTeck can figure out a fix to make the adjustment tabs more sturdy or perhaps change the system in how these guards adjust in size. Luckily, my mouth is nearly the size that these night guards loosen up to. Having said that, I've still yet to find a night guard that works for me as well as these do.
UPDATE 5: On my 4th pair, due to the adjustment strap not holding its place, I chewed through one of the bite pads in 3 days (bite pad would not stay in place due to loose adjustment). It is now unusable so I have contacted Dentek about a replacement and on the issue of possibly designing future models with more secure adjustment straps. Its a shame that this product has this one glaring flaw. I'd knock this item down to 3.5 stars if I could, but don't want to give it a 3 since its served me well enough in the last 3 pairs.
UPDATE 6: I have been switching back and forth from this and the SleepRight nightguards, both have their perks. This one is more comfortable without a doubt, but the other one is definitely more durable. I've learned to cope with the other ones by moving the bite pads to the forward-most position so my jaw doesn't have to open up as wide. It works, will still test new products as they come available as neither are perfect.
I absolutely LOVE this mouthpiece & am so glad to find it on Amazon! I have a serious problem with grinding my teeth & have never been able to use any of the custom fit mouthguards because they are so bulky they throw my jaw out,I feel like I'm gagging all night & I find I clench my teeth even more to keep them on.They are so expenisve & I was wearing them out at the rate of 1 in less than 3 months.
With this one,it sits on your bottom teeth, so I don't clench my teeth trying to keep it in,my jaw relaxes more.It's not as bulky so I don't feel like I'm gagging & have a mouth full of saliva all night. It's adjustable-that means that as you use it,it will stretch out & become flatter & bigger(as they all will), but you can just readjust the sizing to fit again. I don't have any trouble with it sliding around in my mouth.To clean it,I just run it under water & slide the pads back & forth on the adjustable piece to rinse it out. Sometimes I will drop it in a glass of mouthwash for the day to disinfect it.
When I say I have a serious problem grinding & clenching my teeth, I really mean it.I've had to deal with migraines from it & had to use muscle relaxers when the muscle in my jaw became so inflammed & irritated that the whole side of my face & neck swelled up! The back of a couple of molars are almost level with my gums because they are worn down so much and I cracked THREE molars in 1 year because I couldn't wear any of the night guards because of the gagging & jaw aches they caused. These are the best things I've found,I don't have any trouble wearing them. As I said, I was wearing the others out in less than 3 months. I bought a 2 pack of these last July 1st(2009) & the 2nd one is finally so worn out I need to replace it-believe me,that is a long time of wear for me!
UPDATE(3/2013): This is still the only nightguard I can use. I'm stiil just as happy with it as I was when I wrote the review. I'd be a LOT happier if I didn't have to wear one in the first place though! For the most part, these last me longer than 6 months, more like 9 months at least. But I also tend to try to get the most wear out of them that I can & I've noticed that when they get really thin, I begin to chew on them more at night, which reminds me to replace it. Anyone who tries this & says it's not comfortable, give it a week or so before you give up I think anything you put in your mouth at night is going to be uncomfortable until you get used to it, it just isn't normal. Even when I replace my old one with a new one, I have a couple of nights of re-adjusting to the difference in size in my mouth. I've also developed a habit of sucking on them in my sleep (or sucking my cheeks in), which makes them press up so tight against my cheeks that it leave sore spots but I think that is me & not the guard causing it, I'm having big issues with insomnia which makes be grind my teeth more. Like I said, I'd rather not wear one at all, but these are the most comfortable I've found for my mouth . I've become so used to wearing it that I can't sleep without it, sometimes I will forget & go to bed without it, but I keep feeling likes something wrong until I realize it's not in my mouth.
Buy DenTek Comfort Fit Dental Guard kit Now
I have tried three different "custom fit" night-time night guards, but could not get one to fit my mouth comfortably. They were bulky, and they threw my jaw out of line. Someone recommended I try this smaller ready to wear DenTek Comfort Fit and my problems were over! It's less bulky, than the "custom fit" guards, takes very little time to get used to, doesn't need boiling water to fit the guard to your mouth. The price is right, too. I highly recommend this product to others who are having trouble getting the "custom fit" guards to fit comfortably in their mouths.
Read Best Reviews of DenTek Comfort Fit Dental Guard kit Here
I have spent approximately $600 in night guards in the last six months. Boil, no-boil, custom-made: I tried them all. THIS is the ONLY guard that I found comfortable enough to give me a good night's sleep. This guard is similar in concept to the SleepRight guard, in which it physically prevents the teeth from touching at night through the use of molar bite pads. I could not stand to wear the "boil-fit" or dentist-made guards because of their bulk (I have a strong gag reflex), and the SleepRight guard pads dug into my gums causing sores. This guard is designed to be worn on on the lower teeth, and uses a minimal amount of material to keep the teeth apart.
Keep in mind that I have a small mouth and do not have a heavy grinding problem those with a more severe grinding problem may want to seek a more substantive guard. However, this guard is ideal for those who prioritize comfort in a night guard. My only regret is that I wish I had found this guard earlier. I thank DenTek for allowing me to sleep comfortably again!
UPDATE: There are apparently two versions of this guard. I originally purchased the updated (package copyright 2008) version, which made significant improvements over the old guard. I (unintentionally) purchased the old-style guard (package copyright 2007) as a back-up, and it's rather stiff, bulky, and uncomfortable to wear. Be sure to purchase the guard that has the blue molar pads (as opposed to white)I now can understand the original complaints about this guard.
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I have been grinding my teeth for 15 yrs and I've mostly used the boil-fit night guards to treat my bruxism. I recently picked up the Dentek comfort-fit and was surprised that it actually stayed in my mouth and did the trick. Unfortunately, after 3-4 months of using this... the access plastic has irritated my gums and they began to bleed. The excess plastic is actually quite uncomfortable... I'm going to look for something similar without so much excess plastic (smaller size or profile).
* Update on 12/14/09
After writing my initial 2 star review, I must say that this mouthguard has been my go-to guard for over a year! It irritated my gums in the beginning but not anymore. And amazingly, I grind a lot but it's still in one piece! It's the most comfortable guard I've owned! So I've upped the review to four stars! My wife just got a nite guard from the dental office and I prefer this one!
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I sleep much better with these in, since they really block out the noise. But in the morning, my ear canals feel inflamed from the pressure of the expanded foam.
