If you are one of the many adult dental patients who suffers from bruxism, or chronic dental grinding, then you may be unknowingly undermining the strength and structure of your smile. That’s why our Elmhurst dentists are here to help you take control of your oral health. Keep reading to learn more about this common condition…
Not all of us grind or clench our teeth during the day; some of us are unconsciously damaging our teeth as we sleep! This often occurs because the patient’s top and bottom teeth do not come together comfortably and naturally. Thus, when the patient is asleep they are moving their teeth back and forth in an effort to find a comfortable resting position.
Bruxism can also develop due to:
- Increased stress and anxiety
- Temporomandibular joint damage, which makes it difficult to move your jaw joints through their full ranges of motion
- Aging dental restorations, which throw off the balance of your smile
When treating bruxism, our Elmhurst dentists have two goals; we want to protect your teeth from damage, and minimize your grinding habit to reduce your risk of TMJ damage. To that end, we may recommend that you:
- Wear a protective oral appliance at night, to shield your teeth from enamel-on-enamel damage
- Replace old restorations with custom crowns
- Use dental bonding to build up and shape specific teeth
- Pursue orthodontic treatment to move your top and bottom teeth into better positions
This entire process begins with a personalized consultation. Our dental team will thoroughly assess the function of your smile, as well as your existing oral health status. In some cases, it may be a good idea to correct oral health problems prior to addressing bruxism.
The sooner that you are able to address bruxism, the better your long-term oral health prognosis will be. Our Elmhurst dentists are here to help you from start to finish, so give us a call to schedule a consultation!