Occlusal Therapy / Night Guards
Bruxism is a condition where a person clenches and or grinds their teeth, often without realizing it. It can happen while you’re awake or asleep, but it’s more common during sleep. Bruxism can be mild or severe, and it can cause a number of issues, including:
- Tooth damage: Teeth may become flattened, fractured, chipped, loose, sensitive or painful.
- Tooth restoration damage: Restorations can break under the added force of bruxism and restorations can be harder to place and last with enamel loss and shorter teeth.
- Jaw pain: Bruxism can cause jaw pain or tiredness.
- Headaches: Bruxism can cause headaches.
- TMD/TMJ: Bruxism can cause or worsen TMD Temporomandibular Joint Disorders.
- Facial appearance: Bruxism can change the appearance of your face by shortening the teeth and making our face look older with our nose and chin being closer together (loss of vertical dimension).
Bruxism can be caused by a combination of factors including stress and airway deficiencies that also cause snoring. The occlusal disease of Bruxism and the damage it creates diminishes both function and appearance and cannot be overlooked. A night guard can be personalized to you based on your needs, habits and compatibility. Neurotoxin is another treatment to limit muscle force to reduce the occurrence and damage of bruxism.
Contact your New Boston, OH dentist to book an appointment to learn more about Occlusal Therapy / Night Guards.
