When you grind or clench your teeth on a regular basis, known as bruxism, this could wear down and even damage your smile. This could leave you vulnerable to issues like tooth decay and infection! But we can help. In today’s blog, your Prairie Village, KS, dentist talks about treating bruxism.
The Causes of Teeth Grinding
What causes bruxism to occur? For some, this could be due to a high level of stress during the day. For others, this could be due to factors that upset bite balance, including TMJ disorder, injury to the face or jaw, malocclusion, tooth loss, or issues with the eruption of the teeth. When our team examines your smile, we will assess the cause of your bruxism, as this helps us choose the most appropriate treatment option.
The Warning Signs and Complications
What warning signs should you be aware of? For some, a significant other could let them know they grind their teeth at night. But there are also symptoms that can occur during waking hours, including headaches, migraines, jaw pain, facial aches, and discomfort in the neck and shoulders. When you have persistent pain in your smile, let us know right away so we can schedule an appointment and conduct a diagnosis. Otherwise, the pressure from grinding and clenching your teeth could wear down enamel and tooth structure to make teeth appear short, and could crack or chip them too. The damage then increases the risk of complications like tooth decay and dental infection, causing pain and threatening smile stability.
Treatment with Oral Appliance Therapy
For some, treatment could include orthodontics to correct misalignment and stop malocclusion. We could replace missing teeth with a dental prosthetic, or even improve balance with crowns or dental bonding. But for many, we offer relief with an oral appliance. The device is custom-fitted for your smile and at first glance, looks like a simple mouthguard. But when worn at night, this helps shift your jaw to ease underlying tension and strain. The device also puts a barrier between the upper and lower sets of teeth, which helps prevent further damage from occurring. The device is simple to use and maintain, and can travel with you easily.
If you have any questions about how we diagnose and treat bruxism to protect your smile, then contact our team today to learn more and get started on your treatment journey. We want to keep your smile healthy and whole!
Learn More About Treating Teeth Grinding
Dr. Browne and his team in Prairie Village, KS, are ready to take on your teeth grinding to keep your smile strong. When you grind or clench your teeth, then reach out to our team today by calling 913-901-8585.
