Improving Oral Health With A Bruxism Appliance

From stress to tooth loss, multiple factors may lead to chronic teeth grinding, known as bruxism. Without treatment, your smile’s health and stability may suffer. Fortunately, there are options to help stop bruxism and restore your smile to optimal health and function. Let’s look at how a bruxism appliance could improve oral health in Albuquerque, NM.

Why Do We Grind Our Teeth?

People may develop teeth grinding as a result of an injury to the face or jaw, bite imbalance, or even dental misalignment. Other factors include untreated TMJ disorder and high levels of stress in your daily life. Teeth grinding also means clenching your teeth together tightly, which leads to the serious complications related to grinding as well.

Warning Signs and Dangers

For most, these episodes only happen at night. If a significant other doesn’t let them know, they may not realize they need treatment. However, there are a few warning signs that will be experienced in the daylight hours. For example, regular headaches, jaw pain, or aches in the face or neck may indicate trouble, as well as tooth sensitivity and toothaches. Without treatment, the constant pressure may wear down tooth enamel and even chip or crack a tooth. Damage then allows bacteria to reach the more sensitive inner layers of dentin. Cavities then form, as well as an increased risk of dental infection. Without treatment, you could develop serious discomfort and even the chance of a lost tooth.

Bruxism Appliance

Sometimes, cutting back on caffeine, avoiding chewing on hard objects, such as ice or pencils, and reducing stress can have a beneficial impact. We may also recommend orthodontics to address misalignment, or use restorations or appliances to correct improper bite. But in most cases, we prescribe a specialized oral appliance, similar to the kind used to treat TMJ disorder. The appliance actually repositions the jaw to ease strain on the joints and reduce grinding episodes. The appliance also provides a barrier between the upper and lower sets of teeth to prevent further damage. Worn at night, the device will be custom-made to ensure a comfortable fit and accurate treatment. If you have any questions about the causes and warning signs of teeth grinding, or if you feel your smile could benefit from one of our custom appliances, then contact our team today.

Do You Grind Your Teeth?

At Snow Park Dental, Dr. Mark A. Miller and our team help preserve your smile with preventive and general dental care, which helps treat common issues, such as teeth grinding or clenching. Contact us today at (505) 596-4479 to schedule a consultation and find a solution for your bruxism at our Albuquerque, NM, office. We welcome patients and families from Rio Rancho, Tijeras, Los Lunas, and all surrounding communities.

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