Bruxism Treatments and Why You Need One

Our bruxism treatments are designed to help patients who regularly grind or clench their teeth while sleeping. This is an incredibly common problem and something that most people do not realize they are doing. Unfortunately, not treating this condition can lead to dental damage along with jaw and facial pain. This is why we recommend scheduling an examination with our office to find out if you are indeed grinding or clenching your teeth at night and what we can do to stop it.

Why is bruxism a problem?

Some people have the tendency to brush off teeth grinding and clenching as a minor issue, but it is actually a health concern. This is because when teeth grind at night, it can begin to wear away the enamel on the teeth, making it more likely that they will become damaged in the future.

It will also be possible to increase the risk for things like tooth decay and even dental infections as grinding escalates. Those who have had dental restorations like crowns or veneers are putting restorations at risk through grinding as well. It is possible to break them due to the sheer force of teeth grinding against teeth.

Clenching is an issue as well. When a person clenches their teeth together at night there is an abnormal amount of pressure that the muscles in the face and jaw are exerting to make that happen. As someone clenches their teeth throughout the night, it is possible to begin experiencing severe pain and soreness in the face and jaw as those muscles are essentially remaining in a clenched position all night. This would be the same as lifting weights and flexing the bicep all night long. Naturally, it is going to lead to soreness, pain and muscle fatigue in the future. This increases symptoms of TMJ as well so it is certainly important to schedule bruxism treatments if this is taking place.

Bruxism treatments, the options

In our office, we do not recommend anything invasive, to begin with. In most cases, it is possible to treat this condition using a guard that is worn at night. We customize the night guard via precise measurements and an impression of the patient's mouth. This way, the guard is customized and will fit securely and comfortably. All a patient needs to do is put the guard in place prior to falling asleep at night. By simply keeping it in place, the teeth will be unable to grind or clench during sleep. As a result, teeth are protected and muscles experience relief.

Schedule an appointment

If your teeth are feeling sensitive or sore, or you wake up with jaw and face pain, it is likely that you are grinding and clenching your teeth at night. To find out for sure, schedule an appointment with our office so that we can complete an examination. If bruxism treatments are warranted, we can work with you and have a guard created right away.