Frequently Asked Questions:
FAQs:
Is the 'Impression Kit' included in the price of the item?
Absolutely...only in the unusual situation of a poor impression being made is a purchase of a new 'Impression Kit' necessary...a new kit will cost $20.
How long does it take to get the appliance(s) back?
After we receive your impressions, usually 3-4 days after you have shipped them; it typically takes us 5 working days to custom-make the night guard / retainer / denture / or other appliance. It then takes another 2-3 days for them to reach you after we have shipped them. So we ask for 10 business days to complete your order. Please consider the time delay, and remember, your mouthpiece is being custom made; and it takes a little longer than purchasing them from a store or worse, the dentist.
What if I've a permanent retainer on my lower?
In the case that you're only in need of an upper retainer, then we will provide two (2) upper retainers...one for use and one for backup.
Why might a night guard or other protective appliance be advisable?
If designed correctly, nighttime appliances help keep teeth from moving, protect ceramic restorations, and protect teeth from wear damage caused by grinding or clenching. A smile is your greatest asset and can be safeguarded by wearing a night guard. A night guard (occlusal splint, bite guard) my serve as a preventive measure for already healthy teeth, or it may be the best way of looking after your investment of cosmetic and restoring procedures. A night guard is often recommended as the first line of treatment for bruxism, (teeth grinding) and TMD (dysfunction of the TMJ). It is usually worn while you sleep to prevent damaging your teeth by the clenching or grinding associated with either the psychological aspects of stress, one's abnormal bite, a sleep disorder, or a combination of the above.
How do you ship?
We use Priority USPS...it takes 2 days to ship our 'Impression Kit' to you within the continental United States.
Can I talk with this piece in my mouth?
Absolutely! Our custom appliances are not bulky. They're custom-fitted for your individual teeth. Your tongue is not restricted and moves around freely. Our night guards are comfortable to wear while sleeping, plus you can wear them during the day without any restrictions and you will be able to talk while wearing your new custom-fitted retainers.
Is this a hard acrylic type night guard?
We sell the ADL or Advanced Dual Laminate Nightguard. It is a unique combination of two materials formed into a single laminated sheet. The outside of the night guard is made of an increased tensile strength material designed for strength and dur ability, while the inside of the night guard is a soft yielding composite designed for comfort & adaptability. The harder, outside surface assures long-lasting wear, while the inside, soft liner assures comfort secure fit.
Is it really simple to take my own impressions at home?
Taking your own impression is not difficult providing your follow our step-by-step instructions. We include a guide in our kits that will walk you through the entire process, plus we have pictures on our website for further clarification.
What about adjustments?
Because our night guards are not the boil and bite type of mouthguards but instead are custom made, there should be no need for adjustment.
What if they don't fit?
In the event that your appliance does not fit, we'll resend you an impression "Re-Do" kit so we can get another impression to remake your appliance. The re-do kit is $12. You will be required to pay the 3-way shipping cost of $18.00.
What is best, an upper or a lower night guard?
Whether you choose an upper or lower night guard is a matter of preference, the effectiveness is the same for both; however, the exception is when you have dental work that prohibits wearing a guard on one or the other arch, or when your dentist has advised otherwise.
What is bruxism (teeth grinding & clenching)?
Bruxism is the technical term for grinding and clenching that abrades teeth and may cause facial pain. People who grind and clench, often called bruxers, unintentionally bite down too hard at inappropriate times, such as during sleep. Many people are unaware that they even have bruxism since it often occurs while they're sleeping. If you wake up with dull headaches or vise-like pain, you may be one of many people suffering from bruxism. Your dentist can usually detect the telltale signs of bruxism on your teeth.
Can bruxism cause harm?
Bruxism can either directly or indirectly cause many problems. Grinding can cause teeth to become painful or loose. Patients can literally grind away parts of their teeth, leaving them with worn surfaces or fractured enamel. People who have otherwise healthy teeth and gums can clench so often and so hard that over time their teeth become sensitive and they experience jaw pain and headaches. Forceful biting when not eating may cause the jaw to move out of proper balance.
What are the signs of bruxism?
Grinding is a common occurrence among many people at some time or another. If you develop facial pain, fatigue or other problems, treatment may be needed. Talk with your dentist if you suspect that you are grinding your teeth. During regular dental visits, they usually check for physical signs of bruxism. When a person has bruxism, the tips of the teeth look flat. Teeth are worn down so much that the enamel is rubbed off, exposing the inside of the tooth, which is called dentin. When exposed, dentin may become sensitive. Bruxers may experience pain in their temporomandibular joint (TMJ), or the jaw, which may manifest itself as popping and clicking. Tongue indentations are another sign of clenching. Stress and certain personality types are more often affected by bruxism. For as long as humankind has existed, bruxism has affected people with nervous tension. Anger, pain and frustration can trigger bruxing. People who are aggressive, competitive, and hurried also may be at greater risk for bruxism. Incidentally, women have a higher prevalence of bruxism, possibly because they are more likely to experience tissue alterations in the jaw.
What causes bruxism?
More research is needed to determine the exact cause of bruxism, but it is thought that both emotional and physical factors are involved. Some of the contributing factors may be stress or sleep disorders, an abnormal bite, or crooked or missing teeth.
What can be done about bruxism?
There are a number of ways to treat bruxism. Your dentist will determine which single treatment or combination of treatments is right for you. When stress is the major cause of bruxism, you must find ways to relax. People who have difficulty handling stress may need to seek counseling, or the dentist may prescribe muscle relaxants to relax jaw muscles. Many times a night guard can prevent grinding from occurring during sleep. To help alleviate muscle pain, physical therapy may be needed. The objective of therapy is to get the bruxer to change behavior by learning how to rest the tongue, teeth and lips properly. When some people become aware of their problem, simply advising them to rest their tongue upward with teeth apart and lips shut may be enough to change their behavior and relieve discomfort.
More Questions?
Call Rob at (972) 814-4788
We're located in Dallas:
4040 AVONDALE AVENUE
SUITE 309
DALLAS TEXAS 75219
Finally! A Way You can Eliminate the Dentist and Save yourself Hundreds of Dollars by dealing Directly with the Dental Lab!
Our At Home Impression Kit Allows You To “Easily” Take Your Own Teeth Impressions to make Custom Fitted Dental Appliances EXACTLY like the ones found at your Dentist's for a FRACTION of the Price...and all without a trip to his Dental Office!
- Have you lost or broken your retainers?
- Do you grind your teeth at night?
- Do you snore at night?
- Want your teeth PROFESSIONALLY whitened?
- Are you missing a tooth?
- Has one of your front teeth slightly moved or have a small gap between your teeth you would like to close??
By using our 'Teeth Impression Kit' to make your own impressions, our lab can create you completely customized mouth pieces that will:
- Keep your teeth from migrating or rotating after wearing braces for years
- Realign the front six teeth or close a small gap between your teeth
- Prevent clenching your jaw or grinding your teeth away while sleeping
- Need a "fake" or temporary tooth in your mouth
- Want to dazzle them with professionally whitened teeth
Who we are and our experience…
Dental Lab Direct’s founder has been in the dental and orthodontic industry for 30+ years and has done dental lab work for HUNDREDS of dentists & orthodontists all over the United States. His years of work & research for the dental/orthodontic community has yielded the finest process & products available. In 1997, he earned a U.S. Patent for another dental appliance “sports mouthpiece” that can be used to prevent snoring.
My name is Robert S. Owen; I'm the managing partner for Dental Lab Direct, the web portion of a 30 year old lab that has serviced over 800 dentists & orthodontists. Until recently, customized dental appliances were available to the public only through your dentist. This was largely due to the level of skill in taking one’s teeth impression, the impression required to cast a model and create customized trays. Most dentists send teeth IMPRESSIONS to dental labs to be cast, molded, & customized into form fitting oral appliances delivered back to the patient a few weeks later. Typically, the cost for upper & lower whitening trays range between $300.00 and $800.00!
Today, with the advent of our Personal Impression Kit, it’s possible to take your own teeth impression usually taking less than five minutes for both the upper and lower teeth. Just drop the kit along with your impressions in the mail to our lab…the same lab dentists & orthodontists use, yet costing 60-90% less by “skipping the trip ”…eliminating the need for a D.D.S. to fit a pair of Professional Customized Tooth Whitening Trays, Invisible Retainers, Night Guards, or even Invisible Braces! All you have to provide us is your teeth impression...
THIS VIDEO CLIP WILL SHOW YOU HOW:
I wore braces from the age of 14 until I was 17, and by the time I had entered college, had all but forgotten what my retainer looked like...by the time I was 26, my teeth were a trainwreck again, which really disappointed my parents considering the investment they had made in my teeth. Fortunately, I learned about these 'Invisible' Aligners called Clear-Aligner®s and was able to get my teeth back in alignment in just a few weeks time. Today, all I have to do is wear my 'Invisible' Retainer or TranspaRetainer for around 30 minutes per day and I won't have to worry about my teeth rotating or migrating anymore.
BUY RETAINERS HERE
Around that same time, I noticed that all of the coffee, tea, and red wine I had consumed in college had made my teeth a little less than white, but never seemed to have a disposable $500 to hand over to the dentist for the professional whitening trays he offered to sell me at every visit. Again, after learning about getting them from the Dental Lab, I have in effect straightened, whitened & started wearing my retainer again all for about the cost my dentist wanted to charge me for the teeth whitening alone! AMAZING! So, I immediately realized the benefit of dealing directly with our dental lab, I mean, the cost of Invisalign through a dentist is $5,000.00 at a minimum. I had achieved the same results at 1/10th the cost!
Now, I recognized that we can't help everyone, people with severly crowded teeth still need the care of an orthodontist, but for those that only need minor adjustment...THIS IS THE GREATEST ALTERNATIVE! Here's how it works:
When you receive your kit, review the steps and instructions first. Then take out 1 set of the YELLOW & BLUE impression material (putty).
Mix the two pieces of putty together for 45 to 100 seconds to get one solid color (blue).
When your putty is one solid color, simply roll it and shape it like a finger. Pick up your tray.
Put the finger shaped putty into the tray, making sure to cover all parts of the tray.
Take the tray and place it over the center of your upper or lower teeth (remember that this putty will begin to harden in under two (2) minutes). Push the tray over your teeth. Hold for FOUR (4) minutes, then remove.
Send your impressions back to our dental lab using the pre-paid envelope that came with your kit. We make your mouthpiece(s) & send it back to you. As a member of the National Association of Dental Laboratories, you can rest assured knowing you're getting a quality custom made dental appliance!
Each impression kit includes photographs and step-by-step instructions walking you through the entire impression process. Our clients have a 93% success rate in taking accurate impressions of their teeth the first time around.
Now... You've Just Gone Through the Exact Same Process Thousands of Dentists Go Through Every Day and Saved Yourself Hundreds of Dollars (maybe even Thousands!) The process is the same for all of our products.
INVISIBLE RETAINERS
Our 'Invisible' or clear retainers are made of a thin, clear, durable plastic that snaps into place over the teeth and prevents teeth rotation & migration. When using this transparent dental retainer, teeth and gums show through the plastic, unlike the “Hawley” retainer (metal wire & denture plastic). When one smiles others are not able to see the dental retainer. Mouth retainers with the wire across the front teeth are used mostly to keep teeth from shifting, but can also be used to move teeth. Dental night guards are worn at night to protect the teeth.
Our invisible retainers do not move teeth; they simply keep teeth in their current position & eliminate further crowding. By wearing these for just 15-30 minutes per day, it will prevent teeth from rotation or migration.
We save our customers hundreds of dollars, instead of another "TRIP TO THE DENTIST". The cost of these clear retainers at a dental office ranges from $350 to $600.00! Dental Lab Direct Price: $189 (Includes Upper & Lower)
BUY INVISIBLE RETAINERS HERE
'HAWLEY' RETAINERS
Traditional Retainers are made from Denture Plastic and Metal Wire; Called 'Hawley' Retainers, are more durable and if taken care of, can have more longevity than the clear, or Essix type.
We save our customers hundreds of dollars, instead of another "TRIP TO THE DENTIST". The cost of these Hawley retainers at a dental office ranges from $400 to $600.00! Dental Lab Direct Price: $229 (Includes Upper & Lower)
BUY HAWLEY RETAINERS HERE
INVISIBLE Aligners
Dental Lab Direct announces the Clear-Aligner® is now available to straighten ONLY the front six teeth. The Clear-Aligner® is designed for MINOR tooth movement and for re-aligning the front six teeth ONLY. Minor rotations and/or relapses of these teeth up to 3 mm are ideal cases for this appliance. An example is an adult or teenager who once wore braces, but negleted to continue wearing their retainer after getting their braces removed.
How do I know how many Clear-Aligner®s I may need? Each Clear-Aligner® will move teeth about 1mm. If 2 mm of movement is needed, then 2 aligners will be needed. If 3 mm of movement is needed, then 3 aligners will be needed, etc.
The Treatment Time depends on the mobility of the teeth. Teeth will move into the new position between three or four weeks. If 2 mm of movement is needed, then a second aligner will be needed, etc.
With the supervision of a professional, space can be created for movement of crowded front six teeth. By stripping the teeth with either diamond interproximal strips or a diamond disk, and also by the use of expanders.
Will I see perfect results? Results depend on many factors: shape of teeth, amount of moving, root position, etc. If you are treating a case with minor movement and proper root position, the result will be much more aesthetic than cases with poor root position and major rotations. Dental Lab Direct Cost: $298 PER ALIGNER
NIGHT GUARDS
Dental Lab Direct announces the Custom Comfort NiteGard® is now available for individuals for bruxism treatment. Bruxism \‘bruk˛si-zim\ n [Gk brychein to gnash the teeth]: the habit of unconsciously gritting or grinding the teeth especially in situations of stress or during sleep.
The Custom Comfort Night Guard consists of a clear soft plastic that one wears to relieve tooth grinding and clenching when asleep. This night mouth guard fits comfortably over either the upper or lower teeth only. It is 3mm thick and will allow an individual to completely close their mouth while asleep, unlike other bruxism mouth guards. The night guard is made of exactly the same material dentists/orthodontist use to prepare their devices for patients with bruxism.
It's made with an Advanced Dual-Laminate/Soft Night Guard (ADL) - the ADL Night Guard is 33% more durable than the standard soft laminate night guards. It is a unique combination of two material formed into a single laminated sheet. The outside of the night guard is made of an increased tensile strength material designed for strength and dual ability, while the inside of the night guard is a soft yielding composite designed for comfort & adaptability. The harder, outside surface assures long-lasting wear, while the inside, soft liner assures comfort secure fit. The advanced dual laminate hard/soft night guard is ideal for light and moderate nighttime grinding and clenching. The night guard can be worn on either the upper or the lower arch.
The cost of a night guard prepared by a dentist or orthodontist will range from $450.00 to $900.00! It is smaller and much more comfortable than the thermoform or “boil & bite” night guard types found at the corner drug store, this is because they are specifically customized to that particular individual.
1. Stop grinding
2. Improve breathing
3. Improve posture
4. Reduce headaches
5. Reduce discomfort
6. Reduce stress
7. Reduce tension
8. Protects teeth and dental work from damage caused by clenching and grinding.
9. Worn for performance enhancement during non-contact sporting activities where the natural tendency to clench and grind the teeth may occur, such as: golf, weightlifting, tennis, cycling, bowling, archery, skeet shooting, etc.
10. Avoid cause chipping, fractures, excessive wear and loosening of the teeth.
11. Night guard may reduce snoring.
Dental Lab Direct will save those individuals hundreds of dollars by providing them with the Custom Comfort Night Guard “Personal Impression Kit” for bruxism treatment. Dental Lab Direct Price: $168 (Includes Upper OR Lower)
BUY NIGHT GUARDS HERE
ANTI-SNORING APPLIANCE
SilenSnor® is worn during sleep. It uses normal body reflexes to keep the airway open. The device fits snugly on the upper teeth. When the lower jaw closes, the lower teeth close onto the lower ramp of the SilenSnor. This keeps the jaw in a normal position, rather than sagging open and back. In addition, the tongue reflexively seeks the small center orifice between the upper and lower ramp. This reflex keeps if from sagging back into the throat. With the airway open, breathing is relaxed and normal during sleep. Your lower jaw is in an advanced position, not normal.
We save our customers hundreds of dollars, instead of another "TRIP TO THE DENTIST". The cost of these clear retainers at a dental office ranges from $600 to $900.00! Dental Lab Direct Price: $268
BUY ANTI-SNORING APPLIANCE HERE
WHITENING TRAYS & GEL
Our Professional Tooth Whitening System consists of customized whitening trays (made of a thin flexible plastic to fit your teeth exclusively) and three syringes of 22% tooth whitener Carbamide Peroxide tooth whitening-gel. We construct the whitening trays from the impression trays and putty contained in our “kit”, that you make and ship back to our lab. The difference between our PROFESSIONALLY CUSTOMIZED TRAYS and other trays is that we scallop ours to your gum line so that the whitening gel won't be held over your gum tissue and cause irritation. It's extremely important that you know this. Dental Lab Direct Price: $159 (Includes Upper & Lower + 3 Gel-Syringes of 22% Carbamide Peroxide)
BUY TEETH WHITENING TRAYS HERE
Upon receiving your Custom Professional Tooth Whitening Trays, a very small amount of tooth whitening gel from a pre-loaded gel-syringe are placed into them, and then placed over teeth. The trays are worn for thirty minutes to an hour, depending on sensitivity.
Trays are worn for the first 5 days to achieve maximum whitening, then twice a year to maintain desired tooth brightness. Compare ours versus the dentists versus the OTC (over the counter) type. You’ll easily see the value of our products and services.
The uses of Custom Professional Tooth Whitening trays are by far the most comfortable. The trays are form fitted, not bulky like the type one boils. They stay in place unlike the over the counter whitening, & can be worn anytime, not specifically at night and provide for a more even whitening of your teeth.
Our Tooth Whitening Gel is a 22% tooth whitener Carbamide Peroxide. The boil & applicator type is only 3-4 % and must be worn much, much longer for the same desired effect. Dental Lab Direct Price: 5 Gel-Syringes FOR $60
BUY WHITENING GEL HERE
PARTIAL DENTURES
If you have a missing tooth, a temporary bridge, or TempoBridge, may be the answer. A TempoBridge is a clear retainer containing a false tooth custom made to fill in the space of your missing tooth. The false tooth is attached by the "Invisible" Tray bridging your teeth together (sometimes called a TEMPORARY BRIDGE). How is temporary dental bridge created? You first create an impression, which will serve as the model from which the mouth piece & false tooth be made by our dental laboratory. Dental Lab Direct TempoBridge Price: $227 (Includes Upper OR Lower)
BUY PARTIAL DENTURES HERE
But you may want something a bit more durable, called a Flipper appliance.
A Flipper is a false tooth fused to acrylic plastic to temporarily take the place of a missing tooth before the permanent bridge is cemented. A Flipper can be attached via either a wire or a plastic piece that fits in the roof of your mouth. Flippers are meant to be a temporary solution while awaiting the permanent bridge. On your second appointment, the temporary bridge will be removed. Your new permanent bridge will be fitted and checked and adjusted for any bite discrepancies. Your new bridge will then be cemented to your teeth.Dental Lab Direct 'Flipper' Price: $267 (Includes Upper OR Lower)
BUY PARTIAL DENTURES HERE