Have you ever been told that you clench or grind your teeth? You may be unaware of this habit until you visit the dentist. Most of the time bruxism, which is the technical term for teeth grinding, usually occurs while you sleep.
Common symptoms clenchers and grinders experience include:
- chipped teeth
- tooth sensitivity
- dull headaches
- TMJ soreness
- "notching" at the gumline, also known as abfractions
- recession of the gum tissue
- not getting a good nights sleep can also be be a symptom of grinding.
Occlusal guards, which are hard acrylic appliances custom made to fit the teeth, help to prevent any further damage by protecting your teeth. The appliance is worn on the upper teeth while you sleep, or during your most stressful times of the day. Occlusal guards do not fix any damage that has been done to the teeth, it is more of a way to prevent any further damage that may be done while clenching and grinding. The occlusal guards absorb the forces of your bite. Over the counter guards are uncomfortable and can make you grind more because they are soft and your brain registers that as food. Only the custom made occlusal guards are recommended by us at Rochester Advanced Dentistry.
No comments:
Post a Comment