I have a lot of dental damage due to this, and unfortunately my dentist just kept fixing things without addressing the issue. I was living in too much of a depressive fog to even be aware, but once I woke up out of it I found a better dentist and got a mouthguard.
Meadowsweet, the damage can be serious and much more expensive (and upsetting) in the long run. I would worry that your dentist isn't taking any action - mine let things get to a terrible point and I suspect I'd have a case against her for negligence if I had the energy or inclination to pursue it. I now see a highly qualified dentist (he's a consultant and teaches at a dental school) and even though his fees are high it actually costs me less than before, because the entire focus is on prevention and I haven't had to have any work done for three years.
I think there are different points of view on over the counter mouthguards versus custom made ones. I've got a custom made acrylic one (occlusal splint). It has been very difficult to have something in my mouth. It took me a year to feel fine about it, but I persevered because I didn't want any more damage. I started with a less intrusive option which is a soft cover for one arch, but I ground through them so quickly it wasn't worth it. My dentist expects the splint to last for about 10 years so it's worth the initial investment.
The hardest part for me was having the cast made, but I took diazepam for that.
