Chronic teeth grinding and clenching is known as bruxism, and this could actually damage your teeth if left untreated. To avoid painful symptoms and injured teeth, you need to seek treatment. In today’s blog, your Astoria, NY, dentist talks about the factors behind bruxism, and how we can offer a noninvasive solution.
The Dangers of Teeth Grinding
When we grind and clench our teeth, this places pressure on the surfaces of our smile. Over time, this pressure could wear down outer enamel, making teeth appear short and also exposing them to cavities and infection. The teeth could also be cracked and chipped under this pressure as well. The damage means an increased risk of poor oral health issues, which could threaten the stability of your smile over time. To preserve your smile, you need to seek treatment for your bruxism.
The Causes and Symptoms of Bruxism
This could be brought on by issues that upset your bite balance and strain your jaw joints, such as untreated TMJ disorder, injury to the jaw or face, tooth loss, malocclusion, or problems with the growth and development of the jaw and oral structures. In addition, high levels of stress could be a major factor as well. People may notice toothaches and tooth sensitivity, as well as headaches, jaw pain, migraines, facial aches, and discomfort in the neck and shoulders. You may also have a significant other let you know that you grind your teeth at night.
Treatment with Oral Appliances
When you experience these symptoms, then contact our team for a diagnosis. We will carefully examine the teeth for signs of wear and friction, and identify the factors behind your bruxism. For some, treatment could involve orthodontics to correct malocclusion, or crowns or bonding/contouring to improve overall bite balance. We could also use prosthetics like bridges and dental implants to replace missing teeth. But for most people, we create a custom-fitted oral appliance, which is worn as you sleep. The device repositions the jaw to ease pressure and strain, and prevents further damage by placing a barrier between the upper and lower sets of teeth.
If you have damaged teeth, we could use custom and lifelike crowns, or even dental bonding, to repair them in one to two visits. This allows you to smile with confidence again! If you have any questions or concerns about diagnosing or treating issues like teeth grinding, then contact our team today.
Ready to Stop Your Grinding and Clenching?
Our team is ready to help treat your bruxism with a custom and comfortable approach. To learn more about treating jaw joint disorders and damaged teeth, then schedule a consultation by calling Jeffrey Leibowitz, DDS, in Astoria, NY, today at 718-728-8320.
