Mine is just a lower one (the last two were just upper), but the $1000 cost included the visit for the molds and two follow-up visits for adjustments. Office visits aren't cheap.

The last dentist who tried to fit me for a guard literally threw out his first attempt. My jaw "floats" a bit and I never bite down the same way twice, which makes it even harder to fit.

I have a small mouth, though they usually use adult molds and x-ray film, it pushes me to the limit.

The TMJ specialist had to do a lot of adjusting to the bit that goes behind my teeth in the front, because it's very cramped and because of how my top teeth are aligned, I often felt like I was biting the tip of my tongue. It's better now, but I'm still not happy with it. That's one reason I like the cheap non-prescription version -- there's nothing but a plastic band that goes along the gumline, so nothing interferes with my tongue.

You can wear a guard more than just at night, but you're not supposed to wear it 24/7, so check with your dentist. You might try wearing it as soon as you get home to get the maximum benefit. The idea behind the guard is not necessarily to prevent grinding or clenching directly, but to retrain your jaw to go into a "relaxed" position.

Wow -- I love my dentist even more now. The charges I paid cover the subsequent fittings, too. :| I always knew I loved my dentist, I guess I just didn't know how much.

Sounds as if you need something made out of rubber? But that might not be rigid enough? That really sucks. :( Makes sense to use the cheaper one, though, if they can't fit you properly. I'm not sure I really need an expensive appliance rather than a cheaper OTC type but I guess I'm going to find out. :|

Well, if it can retrain me, I'll be impressed. It has been a lifelong habit for me so it's ingrained.

There's a huge difference between a dentist and a TMJ specialist, and specialists always cost more. But unfortunately, most general dentists don't know much about the treatment of TMJ beyond making a guard.

I really think meds play an important role in treatment and most dentists just treat in their area, if you'll pardon the pun, and not the whole syndrome. I'm not saying I'm pain free, but without my meds I wouldn't be able to function 90% of the time.

I posted about my full treatment in my LJ, so if you want the gory details, it's under the "health" tag starting back around last October. The primary treatment included getting four syringes worth of anesthetic injected into my scalp to "reboot" the occipital nerves and cut back on the pain. That might be incentive to use your block instead of ending up with full-blown TMJ like me. ;)