Bruxism means that you grind and clench your teeth on a nightly basis, and lack of treatment could leave your smile vulnerable to damage and tooth decay. For treatment, we could offer an oral appliance and then discuss restorative care to repair any damage. In today’s blog, your Prairie Village, KS, dentist talks about taking on your bruxism.
The Causes and Dangers of Teeth Grinding
Why do we grind our teeth? People may develop bruxism due to high levels of stress in their daily life. Issues that upset bite balance could also be factors, including injury to the face or jaw, untreated TMJ disorder, misalignment, missing teeth, and issues with the growth of the jaw or eruption of your teeth. Without treatment, the pressure on your teeth can wear down structures and even crack or chip the teeth. These injuries not only change the appearance of your smile, but they can increase the risk of tooth decay and dental infection, causing pain and a higher risk of tooth loss. But we can help with a comfortable and custom oral appliance.
Treatment with an Oral Appliance
To begin, we will examine your smile to identify the wear and friction that could indicate bruxism. We then take detailed digital images and measurements of your bite, which we use to design and custom-fit an oral appliance. The device will be worn when you sleep, and once in place will help reposition the jaw to ease the underlying factors behind your teeth grinding. The appliance also puts a soft barrier between your upper and lower sets of teeth to prevent further damage to the smile. The device will be easy to use and clean, and it can travel with you on your summer vacation too!
Restorative Treatment for Damaged Teeth
What about your damaged teeth? With restorative dentistry, we can offer durable and lifelike repair for your smile. Minor injuries can be taken on in one visit with dental bonding, using the same composite resin we employ as part of our tooth-colored fillings. For more substantial injuries, we could create and place a custom dental crown, one that looks natural and blends with the smile. If you have missing teeth, we can discuss replacement with a bridge or possibly a dental implant.
If you have any questions about how we diagnose and treat bruxism, then contact our team today to learn more and get started.
Call Dr. Robert Browne, D.D.S. for Teeth Grinding Treatment
By addressing your bruxism, we can prevent further damage and then restore your smile. To find out more about our office, or to schedule an appointment, please call Dr. Robert M. Browne, D.D.S. in Prairie Village, KS at (913) 901-8585.
