bruxism Archives - Britten Perio

What is Bruxism?

August 16, 2022
Britten
Dentistry

Bruxism is a problem in which you unconsciously grind or clench your teeth. You may clench and grind your teeth during the day. Or, at night while you sleep (sleep bruxism).

This condition can affect adults and children. Some people don’t have any symptoms. Others may experience headaches, jaw pain, tooth pain, or dental problems.

Children with this condition will often improve on their own. For adults, dental guards may help protect the teeth from damage.

Nightguards purchased online or at the drug store are not custom fitted, they are usual one size fits all or boil & bites. They can be large, unattractive, poorly fitting and may even come out during the grinding.

Your dentist is trained in how a persons’ bite should function, how the teeth should come together and will take into account your specific situation and grinding pattern. Your dentist’s office will take impressions of your teeth so that the dental lab can make a might guard that is the exact match to your teeth.

Although the initial investment may be greater, a custom fit nightguard can be an extremely worthwhile investment in the long run. It is designed by your dentist to fit your teeth exactly and is much more likely than a store bought guard to prevent you from needing more expensive dental work in the future. In many case, dental insurance covers all or part of the cost.

Many people clench or grind their teeth whether they realize it or not. Clenching and grinding can be detrimental to your teeth and to their supporting structures (gum tissues and bone).

It can cause wear on the biting surfaces, root defects, gum recession, contribute to gum disease and tooth shifting and mobility, and cause muscular and TMJ (joint) issues.

Do you suffer from bruxism?

August 30, 2019
Britten
Dentistry

Do you ever wake up with an aching jaw, tooth sensitivity or notice that your teeth seem to be shifting or loosening? Clenching or grinding your teeth can put excessive force on the supporting tissues of the teeth and could speed up the rate at which periodontal tissues are destroyed. Teeth grinding or clenching can also cause abnormal wear and tear on the teeth which will prematurely age and loosen them, causing problems such as hypersensitivity (from the small cracks that form, exposing your dentin). Clenching or grinding, known as bruxism, can also lead to chronic jaw and facial pain, as well as headaches.

If no one has told you that you grind your teeth, here are a few clues that you may suffer from bruxism:

Your jaw is sore often, or you hear popping sounds when you open and close your mouth.

Your teeth look short or worn down.

You notice dents in your tongue, especially along the edges.

A common therapy involves use of a special appliance worn while sleeping which your dentist can custom fit for you.

Dr. Britten can evaluate you for evidence of clenching or grinding and make the appropriate recommendation to avoid further damage to your teeth, gums and TMJ.

If you have any questions or concerns about bruxism, please contact our office at 727-586-2681.

Tooth Defects: What you need to know about how they happen

June 29, 2018
Britten
Dentistry

Abfractions and abrasions are nearly identical, their treatment options are often the same, and bruxism (tooth grinding) and improper alignment of the jaws and/or teeth (malocclusion) must be ruled out for both.

An abfraction is an angular notch at the gumline caused by bending forces applied to the tooth.

An abrasion is a rounded notch at the gumline that are generally not as angular and sometimes have more of a saucered appearance. With abrasions, it is believed that heavy toothbrushing forces applied to exposed tooth roots may cause a rounded notch at the gumline. Abfractions, on the other hand, are caused by one of two things:

Chronic heavy forces on teeth, such as may be produced by clenching or grinding the teeth (bruxing).

Normal forces on teeth which are improperly aligned (malocclusion).

Abfractions that have been present for awhile may become rounded through the abrasive movement a hard toothbrush agressive brushing and if the teeth are continually exposed to an acidic environment, which is known to soften tooth structure.