Treatments to Stop Teeth-Grinding
Chronic teeth-grinding (also known as bruxism) can have serious consequences for your immediate and long-term oral health. In the immediate sense, the constant grinding can wear your teeth down, making them increasingly more sensitive and changing how comfortably your bite functions. In the long-term, it can have a detrimental effect on other components of your bite, such as the jaw joints (TMJs) and muscles that control its movement. To help you alleviate your bruxism and reduce your risks of such consequences, we can often treat it with a custom-designed appliance, and/or with one or more other treatment options.
What a bruxism appliance does
A bruxism appliance, or mouth guard, is designed to protect your teeth from the pressure and friction generated by grinding them together. It’s designed according to the highly precise measurements of your teeth and dental ridges to offer optimal support and comfort while you sleep. It also helps you avoid damaging your teeth by grinding them together at night, and in some cases, it may be combined with one or more other necessary treatments.
Other forms of bruxism treatment
For many patients with bruxism, a custom-designed oral splint or mouthguard goes a long way in protecting their teeth from the damages that could stem from teeth-grinding. However, depending on the root cause of their condition, treatment may also include one of the following:
- Orthodontic care – If your bite has trouble resting or functioning properly because of crooked teeth, then your teeth may constantly grind together as your jaw struggles to get comfortable. Orthodontic care may be necessary to correct crooked teeth and alleviate the source of your bruxism.
- Restorative dentistry – When you have one or more damaged or missing teeth, the condition can also affect how well your bite functions. Your treatment may include one or more appropriate restorations to correct your smile, and your custom mouthguard can be designed to accommodate them.
- Cosmetic dentistry – If you have chipped or worn down teeth that affect your bite’s function, but don’t necessarily need comprehensive restoration, then cosmetic treatment such as tooth bonding/contouring or porcelain veneers may help. Cosmetic dentistry can restore your bite’s balance while minimizing changes to your tooth structure.
- TruDenta® – TruDenta® is an advanced imaging, diagnostic, and treatment technology that allows us to precisely diagnose bite dysfunction and the factors that contribute to it. With the innovative TruDenta® system, we can more accurately pinpoint the cause of your bruxism and design the most appropriate treatment plan to correct it.
Make an appointment to treat your bruxism
Grinding your teeth can place them at serious risk, which makes treating bruxism as soon as possible even more important. To learn more, schedule a consultation at Healthy Smiles Family Dentistry in Houston, TX, today by calling (281) 974-4494.