What steps do you take to protect your smile? While some harms are easy to detect, certain behaviors such as grinding your teeth at night occur without notice. While brushing and flossing each day removes bacteria that lead to tooth decay, what can you do to protect against something that happens while you’re asleep? Left untreated, this habit also known as bruxism, can wear down your teeth causing serious problems with misalignment. In addition to changing the position of your bite, the loss of surface enamel places you at risk for developing cavities and infections. To prevent bruxism from destroying your smile, we could design an appliance to protect your smile while you sleep.
At your Prairie Village, KS dental practice, we can detect the signs of grinding during a general checkup. If we see significant wear on your back molars, we can provide an oral guard custom-fitted to the specific dimensions of your bite. After putting an end to your unconscious habit’s effect on your smile, we can discuss restorative treatments to treat the damage that already exists.
Detecting Your Bruxism Problem
How do you even tell if you suffer from teeth grinding? Because this habit can be quite noisy, consider asking a friend or loved one to watch over you while you sleep. They may be able to hear the gnashing or even see the movement of your jaw. We are also able to detect the problem when it causes advanced wear during the exam portion of your dental checkup.
Wearing An Oral Guard To Protect Your Smile
By taking measurements of your bite, we can create a BPA-free oral guard that comfortably fits the contours of your teeth. By wearing your guard on each row of teeth, it prevents your enamel from grinding when you clench your jaw. Because your teeth separate, this appliance relieves pressure from constant biting that creates tension in your facial muscles. You may wake up feeling more refreshed when using an oral guard.
Repairing The Damage Of Bruxism
We can help you explore options to return the beauty of a smile worn down by grinding. Porcelain veneers offer a versatile option for building up the height of your smile as well as covering any cracks or chips on your teeth. For individual teeth, we can also create dental crowns or perform a bonding technique to repair specific damage.
Speak With Your Prairie Village, KS Dentist About A Treatment For Your Grinding Habit
To discover if your teeth are worn from bruxism, stay on top of your dental checkup schedule. By receiving regular inspections, we can create a dental record to track any sudden changes in your habits. To learn more about treating your bruxism, please contact your Prairie Village, KS dentist’s office at (913) 901-8585.
