Stopping Bruxism From Damaging Teeth

celina bruxismWhen you have bruxism, this means you grind your teeth and clench them on a regular basis. The pressure could damage your smile and leave teeth vulnerable to cavities and other complications. But your Celina, TX, dentist can offer a comfortable oral appliance to prevent bruxism-related damage from occurring.

The Causes of Teeth Grinding

What makes a person develop nightly teeth grinding and clenching? For some, this could be due to imbalance in the bite, brought on by missing teeth, injury, malocclusion due to misalignment, injury to the face or jaw, or even complications with the growth of the jaw or the eruption of the teeth. High stress levels could be a factor too, as could untreated TMJ disorder. The causes vary, and we will assess them with a detailed examination, so we can choose the best option for treating your bruxism.

Symptoms and Dental Damage

If you have a significant other, they may let you know if you grind your teeth. Otherwise, watch for symptoms that occur in the waking hours, such as headaches, migraines, jaw and facial pain, or aches in the neck and shoulders. Tooth sensitivity and toothaches are common too. Over time, grinding and clenching your teeth at night will wear them down and make them appear short, and also damages the enamel to expose sensitive inner structures to harmful bacteria. The result is a higher risk of tooth decay and infection, and even the likelihood or overall tooth loss without treatment. Fortunately, we can offer a solution!

Treatment with Oral Appliance Therapy

For some patients, we could correct misalignment with orthodontics to address bruxism, or even restore bite balance by repairing teeth with crowns or bonding. Using a prosthetic to replace missing teeth could be helpful too. But the most common treatment is an oral appliance, one that fits comfortably and provides a noninvasive solution to teeth grinding. The device will be custom-made for your smile based on the detailed digital images we gather. The completed oral appliance is then worn as you sleep, repositioning the jaw or ease strain and putting a barrier between the upper and lower sets of teeth to prevent further damage. The appliance is also easy to clean and store!

If you have any questions about how we approach treatment for teeth grinding, then contact our team today to learn more.

Celina Family Dentistry Offers Bruxism Treatment In Celina, TX

Our team wants to help you avoid the dangers of untreated teeth grinding, so you can enjoy a full, beautiful, and comfortable smile. To learn more about how we stop issues like jaw joint strain and the impact of bite imbalance, then give us a call at Celina Family Dentistry at (214) 851-0130!