Chronic teeth grinding, also known as bruxism, could be due to stress or issues that alter your bite balance. Without treatment, there is a real risk of damage to your smile and major complications. But your Kansas City, MO, dentist can help stop bruxism with a special oral appliance.
The Causes of Bruxism
Why causes some people to grind and clench their teeth on such a frequent basis each night? Bruxism may be due to stress levels, as we mentioned above. Other factors could include TMJ disorder, malocclusion, injury to the face or jaw, or missing teeth. Issues with the growth and development of your jaw, or with the eruption of the teeth, could also impact your risk. The arrival of wisdom teeth could factor in the onset of bruxism as well.
Warning Signs of Teeth Grinding
You need to see our team for treatment when you begin to experience the common warning signs of teeth grinding, such as pain in the jaw or face, headaches and migraines, and toothaches and tooth sensitivity. You could also notice your teeth appearing shorter than normal as structure is worn down. Treatment is needed because the damage to your teeth could increase the risk of complications like tooth decay and dental infection. Instead of suffering from worsening pain and the risk of losing one or more teeth, you could see our team for a comfortable and noninvasive solution: oral appliance therapy.
Treatment with a Custom Oral Appliance
Our team will examine your smile and gather detailed digital images and impressions of your bite. With this information, our team can design and craft an oral appliance, one that is custom-fitted for your smile and worn while you sleep. When the device is in place, this helps alter the position of your jaw to ease any underlying strain or stress on the joints. The device also acts as a soft barrier between the upper and lower sets of teeth to prevent further damage. Should you have cracked, chipped, or worn down teeth, we could offer same-day repair with dental bonding, or even place custom dental crowns.
If you have any questions about how we diagnose and treat issues like teeth grinding, or if you want to see if an oral appliance can stop your grinding and clenching, then contact our team today to learn more. We want to help your smile stay comfortable, healthy, and intact!
Schedule Your Next Appointment With Delightful Dental Care
Our team can protect your smile by putting a stop to chronic teeth grinding and clenching with a custom oral appliance. To find out more about bruxism treatments, call Delightful Dental Care in Kansas City, MO at (816) 942-7669.