Bruxism

Are you noticing tooth pain, mobile teeth, tenderness/popping/clicking/limited movement in the jaw joint, earaches, headaches when you wake, flattened or fractured teeth? You may be one of the many people suffering from bruxism. Prevalent during sleep, you may not even know you are clenching and grinding your teeth. There are many possible contributors, including stress, dehydration, medications, and tooth eruption in children.

Your temporomandibular, or jaw, joint (TMJ) is evaluated at each dental checkup. During this exam, please share any symptoms you have noticed or concerns you have about the health of your TMJ. If a temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is detected, you may be seen at a specialist’s office for evaluation and treatment.

There are many treatments possible. Teeth damaged by bruxism can be repaired with fillings, crowns and onlays. Medications, physical therapy and stress reduction techniques may be used to help muscles relax. Finally, we may recommend a flexible or hard acrylic mouthguard to protect the teeth from damage, and train the jaw muscles to relax over time.

Schedule your cleaning and exam with the team at Hannon & Sandler today!