If you grind or clench your teeth on a regular basis, this could mean you have bruxism. Without treatment, this could damage the teeth and lead to issues like cavities and infection. In today’s blog, your Astoria, NY, dentist talks about how we diagnose and treat common oral health issues like bruxism.
The Causes of Bruxism
We may grind our teeth due to factors that upset the balance of the bite, such as missing teeth, dental misalignment, injury to the face or jaw, or complications with the growth and development of the jaw and the eruption of the teeth. For others, this could be due to high levels of stress in your daily life, or an untreated case of TMJ disorder. As part of your treatment, we will examine your smile to understand the exact causes of your bruxism. We then prescribe the most appropriate treatment option.
Common Symptoms
How do you know if you need to seek treatment? Warning signs could include headaches or migraines, jaw and facial pain, or aches in the neck and shoulders. Toothache and tooth sensitivity could be warning signs as well. When you encounter one or more of these potential warning signs, then let us know right away.
Dangers to Teeth
Without treatment, the pressure could begin to weaken outer enamel and even crack or chip a tooth. The damage could increase the risk of tooth decay and dental infection. Treatment could help prevent painful symptoms and complications that could threaten the health of your smile.
Oral Appliance Therapy and Restorative Repair
Our team will examine the teeth for signs of wear and friction, and to diagnose the causes of your grinding and clenching. For some, we could suggest orthodontics to correct misalignment, or bridges and other prosthetics to address tooth loss. Our team could use bonding, contouring, or custom crowns to improve balance too.
But the most common solution is an oral appliance. Created by taking detailed digital images of the smile, we can ensure the device fits comfortably and provides treatment with precision. Worn as you sleep, the device will help reposition the jaw to ease strain and pressure. The device also puts a barrier between the upper and lower sets of teeth to prevent further damage. Should a tooth become cracked or chipped we have lifelike restorations to offer repair in as little as one to two visits.
If you have any questions about diagnosing and treating bruxism, then contact our team today.
Your Astoria, NY, Dentist Can Stop Bruxism
Our team wants to help you avoid damaged teeth and major complications. To learn more about how we treat issues like bruxism, then schedule a consultation by calling Jeffrey Leibowitz, DDS, in Astoria, NY, today at 718-728-8320.
