Teeth Clenching & Grinding Dental Splints
Up to 80% of the population suffer from Bruxism, or tooth grinding at some point in their lives, usually in Adults aged over 25. It can often be stress-related and tends to occur while you sleep. Tooth grinding can cause a number of symptoms: from tooth wearing and breakages, to pain or limited movement in the jaw (also known as Temporomandibular Joint Disorder). Tooth grinding and clenching can also be associated with migraine or headaches.
There are now easy to wear dental appliances or splints available which can be made to fit your mouth to wear at night, which can eradicate this problem.
What are the usual symptoms of Bruxism?
- Headaches and migraines
- Facial myalgia (aching jaw & facial muscles – often diagnosed as Atypical Facial Pain)
- Earache, tinnitus and sinus pains
- Stiff neck and shoulders
- Limited mouth opening
- Poor sleep quality
- Sleep disturbance of bed partner due to noise
- Tooth movement and tooth wear
- Fractured tooth cusps and broken fillings
- Receding and inflamed gums
- Tongue scalloping
What can be the long-term effects of Bruxism?
- Prolonged untreated migraines
- Excessive facial muscle tone
- Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (sometimes called TMJD or just TMJ)
- Clicking or popping jaw joint
- Tooth wear and tooth loss
What treatments are available for Bruxism?
There are many ways to manage Bruxism, with the most common treatment being splints or dental appliances. Splints are designed to separate the upper and lower teeth, and may be as simple as a mouthguard. Other dental treatments may also be considered, such as equilibration (grinding away tooth surface to make the teeth fit together better), orthodontics, or crowns and veneers.
We offer a consultation with our Practice Principal, Gavin Laidlaw BDS. He is trained and qualified to specify the most appropriate dental splint for Bruxism.
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