Bruxism
A Stressful Condition: Clenching & Grinding
Many people habitually and unconsciously clench or grind their teeth with too much force—during sleep, during stressful situations, or at other non-mealtimes. This harmful habit is called bruxism and is common in about one third of the general population, although it’s even more prevalent among women. This inappropriate tendency to constantly clench or grind the teeth can be related to how a person handles stress and nervous tension. Night-time grinding is often related to sleep patterns that can’t be broken. Sometimes bruxism is even a conscious act, as some people erroneously believe their teeth should constantly be touching. People with bruxism often have other "biting" habits as well: Biting fingernails, pencils, lips, or the insides of their cheeks.
A Solid Solution: Protection & Rest
Since bruxers are often unaware of their habit, we carefully evaluate all our patients for the problem by checking for fractured or chipped teeth, excessively worn or flat teeth, worn enamel, unexplained tooth or gum sensitivity, jaw pain, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain, popping and clicking jaws, tense muscles, headaches, partially exposed and sensitive tooth interior (dentin) and/or tongue indentations. Severe bruxism can even lead to a dislocated jaw! If you're diagnosed a bruxer, we can do several things to help break the habit, treat the pain and eliminate further damage to your teeth and oral structures. This may involve fitting you with an orthotic appliance or nightguard to stop the trigger mechanism that initiates the unconscious clenching and grinding. Sometimes wearing the guard will eliminate the problem. If not, we can do further examination to determine the cause, while in the meantime advising continuous wearing of the guard to spare the teeth from further damage.
In 2001, Dr. Birdwell was chosen Texas Dentist of the Year for his exceptional dentistry and for contributions to his profession and community. For you, the patient, this means you couldn’t be in more competent hands. If you’re looking for exceptional dental care in the Bryan - College Station area, we invite you to visit our office. Call our Bryan, TX dental office today and make an appointment for a thorough exam and cosmetic evaluation.
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