Biteplanes

For best results, yes. The biteplane protects your teeth every night you wear it, and the benefits tend to be most consistent when it is used regularly. Your dentist will give you specific guidance based on your situation.

With proper care, rinsing after use, keeping it in its case, and bringing it to your dental appointments, a hard acrylic bite plane can last several years. Heavy grinders may wear through one sooner, but they still tend to outlast soft over-the-counter guards by a significant margin.

You can, but the results are often disappointing. Over-the-counter guards are not fitted to your bite, which means they can sit unevenly, wear out quickly, and in some cases encourage more grinding rather than less. A custom bite plane from your dentist is a significantly more effective and durable solution.

They are often used to mean the same thing, but strictly speaking a bite plane is a specific type of custom-fitted, hard acrylic appliance; one category within the broader umbrella of “night guard.” When your dentist recommends a biteplane, they are recommending a custom dental appliance, not an over-the-counter product.

To get a bite plane, you will need to have a digital scan completed (10 – 15 mins). Once the lab receives your scan, they begin the fabrication process and your biteplane will be ready within 1 – 2 weeks. Once we have it, we’ll book you an appointment and we’ll ensure the appliance fits properly.

Biteplanes are recommended to a patient for various reasons such as if you grind your teeth, clench your teeth, TMD, tension headaches, protection for cosmetic dentistry like crowns, veneers, and bridges, and if you have implants.