Bruxism, or chronic teeth grinding, is a common disorder and one that could cause serious trouble for your smile. To avoid worn down teeth and tooth decay, our team can provide a noninvasive solution. In today’s blog, your Kansas City, MO, dentist talks about how we treat bruxism with a custom oral appliance, helping you avoid major complications and enjoy better oral health and a comfortable smile.
The Causes and Warning Signs of Bruxism
Chronic teeth grinding could occur when we have high levels of stress in our daily life. Other factors could include issues that upset bite balance, such as tooth loss, injury to the face or jaw, misalignment, wisdom tooth eruption, or issues with the growth of your smile. When we begin grinding our teeth at night, this could cause tooth sensitivity, toothaches, headaches and migraines, and pain in the face and jaw. Don’t ignore persistent pain and around your smile, instead contact our team for treatment!
Creating a Custom Oral Appliance
We could offer a number of possible treatments. For example, we could correct misalignment with orthodontics, address tooth loss with a prosthetic, and even use options like crowns or bonding to improve bite balance. But for most, we help address bruxism with a custom oral appliance. The device is one that is worn at night and will fit like a mouthguard. However, this has been custom-fitted based on detailed images and impressions we take of your bite. The device fits comfortably and helps reposition the jaw to ease underlying stress and strain. The same appliance also places a soft barrier between the upper and lower sets of teeth to prevent further damage. The appliance itself is easy to use and clean, and it can travel with you too!
Repairing Damaged Teeth
The pressure from bruxism can wear down teeth or even crack or chip them. This not only changes the appearance of your smile, but can leave you vulnerable to issues like tooth decay and dental infection. But our team can offer repair to address the damage and restore your smile. With dental bonding, we can address minor chips in only one visit. With a custom crown, we can take on more severe damage and fractures to protect your smile. If you recognize the symptoms of bruxism discussed in this blog, or if you have damaged teeth that need attention, then please reach out to our team so we can start your treatment journey.
Learn More About Our Preventive Treatment Options
We want to help treat your chronic teeth grinding with a comfortable solution, so you can avoid painful symptoms and the risk of tooth loss. Schedule your appointment with Delightful Dental Care in Kansas City, MO by calling 816-942-7669.