Clenching & Grinding
SYMPTOMS OF CLENCHING AND GRINDING
About 10 percent of adults and 15 percent of children clench or grind their teeth at night in the U.S, according to the American Sleep Association. This equates to about 30 million people with this problem, which dentists call “bruxism.” Long-term bruxism can cause serious problems with your teeth. You may be damaging your oral health without even realizing it! Luckily, the professionals at Contemporary Family Dentistry can assess you for jaw clenching symptoms of teeth clenching and grinding treatment, and come up with a clenching teeth solution before it’s too late.
SYMPTOMS AND EFFECTS OF BRUXISIM
While you can clench and grind your teeth during the day, bruxism happens most often while you sleep. Because of this, it can be difficult to realize you have this condition – often until it’s already caused damage to your teeth or health. Knowing what to look for can help you catch bruxism early, and take steps to prevent tooth damage. Visiting your dentist regularly can also help, as he or she will be able to notice symptoms. Symptoms may include:
- Waking up with headache or jaw pain
- Waking up with toothaches, earaches, or sore muscles in the face
- Waking up with a stiff, clenched jaw
- Excessive wear on your teeth
- Cracks or fractures in the teeth or enamel
- Loose teeth or loss of teeth
- Sensitive teeth
- Raised cheek tissues from biting
- Grinding noises at night
Chronic bruxism can be very bad for your teeth and overall health. It can lead to very painful and costly dental problems. Leaving bruxism untreated can lead to wearing your teeth down to stumps, exposing sensitive nerves, eroding the gums and supporting bones, breaking fillings, damaging the enamel, cracking teeth, creating abfractions (pictured above), and even losing teeth. It also puts a strain on the jaw joint, possibly causing temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders and muscle tension in the face, head, and shoulders. In children, bruxism typically doesn’t cause damage. It can, however, interrupt sleep and lead to pain or stiffness in the face. See more details here.
TREATING BRUXISM
Crowns are excellent solutions to many dental problems because they are easier to maintain than dentures and other treatments. For the most part, you should not experience any issues with your dental crowns after the final placement. However, your newly crowned tooth may feel sensitive for the first few days after the procedure. Using toothpaste for sensitive teeth during this time can help. If you feel pain when you bite down, however, this is a problem that your dentist must fix.
Chipped, loose, or lost crowns are also issues that we can fix. If you experience these problems with your crown, call us right away for advice. We will give you specific instructions for what to do and when to come in. We may need to make you a new crown if yours falls off, or if it has a bad chip or crack. Our team can help prepare you for what to expect after receiving dental crowns in our office in Bend. We’re your trustworthy source for professional dental information!
If you need dental x-rays, we have the equipment to do them right in our office. We won’t pass you off to other offices or dentists – you can come to us for all of your family dentistry needs. Exams and x-rays can speak volumes about the state of your smile, and help us discuss potential solutions to issues you’re experiencing. We can identify problems like cysts, tumors, decay, and teeth that have yet to come in. Our advanced, digital radiography is the latest technology for our patients. It reduces radiation exposure, gives instant viewing, and is environmentally friendly!
We want you to completely understand your needs, and make an educated, informed decision about treatment with our help. You’ll find the solutions you need at our Bend office!
Have Questions? Contact Us or Call (541) 389-1107
