Bruxism is a disorder in which we grind or clench our teeth on a regular basis. Without treatment to stop this, you risk damage to your teeth and major complications! In today’s blog, Dr. Robert M. Browne talks about how we diagnose and stop bruxism in Prairie Village, KS, with a custom oral appliance.
The Risks of Chronic Teeth Grinding
When we grind and clench our teeth at night, this can begin to place serious pressure on the smile. Over time, this could crack or chip the outer enamel, exposing sensitive portions of the tooth’s interior and allowing cavities and even dental infection to occur. The teeth could be worn down too, which makes them appear shorter than normal and again, increases the risk of complications like cavities and infection. Which is why treatment is so crucial, and should be sought at the first signs of trouble!
Causes and Potential Symptoms
What causes an issue like bruxism to occur? For some, high stress levels in your daily life could be a factor, as could concerns that upset the overall balance of your bite. These imbalances could occur due to tooth loss, injury, or even issues with how your teeth erupt or the jaw develops. Your wisdom teeth arriving could be a factor, for example.
Your significant other may report that you grind and clench your teeth at night. But there are also multiple warning signs that occur during our waking hours, such as pain in the face and jaw, discomfort when you bite down and chew, toothaches and sensitivity, or even headaches and migraines. Don’t ignore the persistent pain in and around your smile, talk to our team about a diagnosis!
Treatment with a Bruxism Appliance
Our team will examine your smile with digital imaging to assess the presence of bruxism, and any damage to your teeth. We then take a detailed impression of your bite using digital technology, so we can create a custom oral appliance that fits well and offers treatment with precision. This device will look and fit like a mouthguard, and is worn while you sleep. The device then places a soft barrier between the upper and lower teeth to prevent damage to your smile and discomfort during the day. The oral appliance is easy to use and clean, and it can travel with you too when you hit the road.
If you have any questions about treating teeth grinding, then contact our team today.
Dr. Browne, DDS, Provides Teeth Grinding Treatment with Bruxism
Our team wants to help stop your chronic teeth grinding and bring relief to your smile. To find out more about treating teeth grinding, or to schedule an appointment, please call Dr. Robert M. Browne, D.D.S. in Prairie Village, KS at (913) 901-8585.
