When you grind or clench your teeth on a near nightly basis, this could damage your smile and cause major oral health complications. But our team can help stop your bruxism, and protect your smile from further injury. In today’s blog, your Kansas City, MO, dentist talks about our bruxism appliances.
The Warning Signs of Bruxism
How do you know if you grind or clench your teeth at night? Your significant other could let you know, but there are also symptoms that occur in the waking hours. For example, you could experience pain in your face and jaw, headaches and migraines, neck and shoulder aches, and toothaches and tooth sensitivity. When you have persistent pain in and around your smile, let us know right away. We can conduct an examination to see if you need a bruxism appliance.
Causes and Long-Term Complications
The disorder could occur when the jaw is imbalanced and the jaw joint strain. This could be due to tooth loss, misalignment, injury, or complications with the growth of the jaw or eruption of the teeth. High stress levels or untreated TMJ disorder could also be potential factors. Without treatment, the grinding and clenching could wear down and mage teeth, increasing the risk of tooth decay and dental infection in the process. To avoid pain and the risk of missing teeth, you should see our team for treatment. A bruxism appliance can offer relief with comfort and precision.
Our Custom Appliances
To begin, our team will take detailed digital images of your mouth and use them in a dental lab to design and craft the oral appliance. The completed device is worn while you sleep, and helps reposition the jaw to ease strain. The appliance also prevents dental damage by placing a barrier between your upper and lower sets of teeth. The device is easy to use and clean, and can take with you over the holidays. If you have sustained damage to your smile, we could offer relief with bonding or crowns, restoring your smile and improving bite balance.
If you have any questions about how we diagnose and treat bruxism with a custom oral appliance, then contact our team today to learn more. We want to help you smile with confidence and enjoy relief from discomfort. You also have a chance to use your 2024 dental insurance benefits or health savings account funds before they expire!
Schedule An Appointment for an Oral Appliance
Our team wants to help you enjoy a healthy and comfortable smile by diagnosing and treating your grinding/clenching with a custom oral appliance. To schedule an appointment with the team at Delightful Dental Care in Kansas City, MO, call our office today at 816-942-7669.