Teeth Grinding Panania – Treatment Solutions
Do you suffer from teeth grinding? Panania patients often don’t know they have this problem until their sleeping partner complains of being kept awake by the noise or their dentist discovers it during a regular check-up.
Nobody knows the reason for teeth grinding although many people associate it with anxiety and stress. Dental problems such as misaligned teeth or raised fillings can also cause a person to grind or clench their teeth, as can some lifestyle habits including smoking, excessive caffeine intake, and recreational drug use.
If you think you may grind your teeth then get in touch with Picnic Point Dental today to discuss teeth grinding treatment.
What is Teeth Grinding Exactly?
Bruxism (the medical term for teeth grinding) is when a person grinds, gnashes, or clenches their teeth. It can happen unconsciously during the day or at night when a person is asleep.
Most people grind their teeth from time to time and it does no harm. However, regular teeth grinding can affect the teeth, the jaw muscles, and the temporomandibular joints. Chronic teeth grinding, can in some cases result in fractured or loose teeth and even tooth loss. The teeth can become badly worn, changing the facial profile, and negatively affecting the chewing muscles.
Signs and symptoms of bruxism include:
- Dull headache starting in the temples
- Worn tooth enamel
- Increased tooth sensitivity
- Jaw, neck, or face pain
- Tired or tight jaw muscles
- Sleep disruption
Teeth Grinding Treatment in Panania NSW
Here at Picnic Point Dental, our dentists use neuromuscular devices (Bite Strip-Germany) to detect TMJ problems and teeth grinding. One of the most common treatments for teeth grinding is a custom-made mouthguard which is worn over the teeth at night. While this doesn’t stop the grinding itself, it protects the teeth from further damage by preventing them from coming into contact with one another.
If you have a raised filling that is causing the problem, we can lower and reshape it, or in the case of misaligned teeth, we may recommend orthodontic treatment.
Relaxation techniques such as yoga, meditation, or even a warm bath before retiring to bed can also be beneficial.
Referrals
If your teeth grinding seems to be related to sleeping issues, then we can refer you to a sleep specialist. They can conduct further tests to see if you are suffering from sleep apnea or some other disorder.
Should you be suffering from anxiety you may be referred to a licensed therapist.
If you suffer from teeth grinding our Panania dentists can help. So contact us today to book an appointment.