Do you grind and clench your teeth on a regular basis? If so, this disorder, known as bruxism, could wear down or damage your teeth. But we can help provide relief! In today’s blog, your Prairie Village, KS, dentist talks about how we diagnose and treat chronic teeth grinding!
The Causes and Symptoms of Teeth Grinding
In childhood, kids often grind their teeth for short periods, but this passes on its own with time. However, in adulthood if you begin to grind your teeth on a regular basis, this may not stop without intervention. Bruxism could develop due to high stress levels in your daily life. You could also grind your teeth nightly due to changes in your bite’s balance, such as the presence of TMJ disorder, misalignment, tooth loss, injury to the face or jaw, or even concerns with the growth of your jaw or the eruption of your teeth.
Warning signs of chronic teeth grinding could include jaw and facial pain, headaches and migraines, and discomfort in the neck and shoulders. You could also experience toothaches and sensitivity, as the damage could wear down teeth and leave them vulnerable to tooth decay and even dental infection.
Help with an Oral Appliance
To stop these grinding episodes and reduce the pressure on your bite, we could offer a custom oral appliance. Our team will custom-fit this device for you based on detailed digital images and impressions we take of your bite. When the oral appliance is ready, you will start wearing toi at night. The appliance will actually fit like a mouthguard, and helps reposition the jaw in some cases to ease underlying stress and pressure. This could also act as a soft barrier between the upper and lower sets of teeth, which prevents further damage. The oral appliance is easy to use and clean, and when you travel it can join you!
Repairing Your Teeth
What about the dental damage that occurs due to bruxism? If you have minor injuries, we could offer same-day results with dental bonding. For more substantial injuries, we could repair your teeth with a dental crown custom-made for your smile. These options will be color-matched to blend with your smile, so you feel comfortable with your appearance following treatment. If you have any questions about how we diagnose and treat bruxism, then contact our team today to learn more!
Call Dr. Robert Browne, D.D.S. Provides Comprehensive Dentistry
We would like to help treat your bruxism and address any damage that has occurred in your smile. To find out more about general dentistry, or to schedule an appointment, please call Dr. Robert M. Browne, D.D.S. in Prairie Village, KS at (913) 901-8585.
