Do you grind your teeth every so often, but don’t consider it a big deal? What if you grind your teeth in your sleep, too, and don’t even realize it? Bruxism describes the habitual, often unconscious grinding of your teeth, and though the damage it causes isn’t always immediate, the condition can seriously threaten your teeth if not addressed. To treat teeth-grinding, we’ll first diagnose the cause, which can range from an uneven bite to excessive stress, or damage to the jaw joints and muscles that move your mouth. Then, we can begin a treatment plan to help restore your smile’s peace and tranquility.
Protect Your Teeth
Bruxism treatment is case-specific, and depends on the underlying causes. However, most bruxism patients can benefit from a bruxism appliance, or sleepguard, that protects teeth from grinding together at night. The sleepguard is custom-designed to fit your teeth and dental ridges, and will buffer your teeth to prevent damage resulting from the pressure and friction of bruxism.
Stop Teeth-Grinding
With a sleepguard, you can reduce the risk of damage from bruxism, but you may still require one or more additional procedures to successfully treat teeth-grinding. If you’re grinding is a symptom of stress, then taking a vacation, picking up a hobby, getting routine massages, or finding other ways to relax might help alleviate the symptoms. If the problem is traced to a dental condition, like crooked teeth or TMJ disorder, then we’ll discuss an appropriate course of treatment based on your specific needs and preferences.
Restore Damaged Teeth
Depending on what stage you catch and treat teeth-grinding, there may be significant dental damage to address, such as excessive tooth wear or cracks and fractures in one or more teeth. If so, then we’ll suggest a proper restorative treatment, like a dental crown, to fix the damage and restore your teeth’s health and function.
ABOUT YOUR DOWNEY FAMILY DENTISTS:
Dr. Hadis Reyhani, Dr. Ben Reyhani, and Dr. Pasha Hakimzadeh, DDS, provide a wealth of combined experience, along with innovative technology and personalized care, to help improve our patients’ dental health so they can enjoy smiling again. To schedule a consultation, call Downey Family Cosmetic Dentistry today at (562) 472-2433.
