Bruxism, or chronic teeth grinding, can lead to damage and discomfort, which is why we urge people to see us for treatment! Our team can provide a comfortable and noninvasive solution for bruxism. In today’s blog, your Lake Orion, MI, dentist talks about how our custom oral appliances can provide relief from bruxism.
The Causes and Warning Signs of Bruxism
Why do we grind our teeth on a regular basis? People with bruxism may develop the disorder due to a high level of stress in their daily life. Issues that upset bite balance could also be factors, such as missing teeth, injury to the face or jaw, malocclusion, or issues with the growth and development of the jaw or the eruption of your teeth. Untreated TMJ disorder could also be a factor. You should see our team right away if you experience common symptoms, such as toothaches and tooth sensitivity, pain in the face or jaw, or headaches or migraines.
The Risk of Dental Damage
Over time, the grinding and clenching from bruxism can wear down teeth so they appear shorter than normal, and also crack and chip them. As the outer enamel is weakened and eroded, this can expose the sensitive inner tissues to harmful bacteria, allowing issues like tooth decay and infection to develop, causing further pain and threatening complications like tooth loss. Fortunately, we can help treat teeth grinding to protect your teeth. If damage does occur, we can offer repair with dental bonding or custom dental crowns, which are durable and lifelike in appearance.
Treatment with an Oral Appliance
Our team will take detailed digital images of your bite from multiple angles, using these to create a 3D impression that allows us to design and craft an oral appliance. Custom-fitted for your smile, this appliance will look and fit like a mouthguard and is worn while you sleep. The device then repositions the jaw to ease stress and strain in your smile. The appliance also places a soft barrier between the upper and lower sets of teeth to prevent further damage to the teeth. The device is easy to use and clean, and it can travel you on your summer vacation!
If you have any questions about how we diagnose and treat teeth grinding, or if you want to try oral appliance therapy for yourself, then contact our team to get started.
Your Lake Orion, MI, Dentist Talks About Our Preventive Treatments
We want to provide treatment to help you avoid the complications of teeth grinding, so you can smile with comfort and confidence. For more information on how our team will diagnose and treat teeth grinding, then call Lake Orion Family Dentistry at (248)693-6213!
