Many people are unaware they grind their teeth because they do it while they sleep. Bruxism (grinding) often occurs in the early part of the night and can disturb sleep partners as the clenching and grinding may be quite audible.
People who grind or clench their teeth may wake with a headache, earache or toothache. Their facial muscles may be sore and the jaw joints tender. Besides causing discomfort, grinding can eventually damage dental restorations and may loosen teeth. Bruxism also can cause damage to the temporomandibular joints - the joints on each side of the mouth that connect the lower jaw to the skull. The pressure from clenching and grinding can cause cracks or fractures in the teeth. As the tooth enamel is worn away, the underlying dentin may be exposed. This causes the tooth to become sensitive to temperature changes and pressure.
|
|
At Half Moon Dental we treat grinding with a night-guard that can be worn while sleeping. Custom- made from soft material to fit your teeth, the night-guard relieves some of the pressure of grinding and clenching.
TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder) disorders develop for many reasons. You may subconsciously during times of stress or during sleep clench or grind your teeth, tightening your jaw muscles and stressing your TMJ joint. You may have even sustained damage to your jaw joint in an accident. Whatever the cause, the results may include misalignment of the teeth, pain, clicking or grating noises when you open your mouth, or trouble opening your mouth wide.
It is possible to have a TMJ disorder for a long time without realising it. That's because some of the symptoms, such as headaches, may seem unrelated to your jaw joints and muscles and therefore misdiagnosed as a back or neck muscle problem.
Some symptoms that may indicate you have a TMJ problem include:
- Grinding or clenching your teeth
- Waking up with sore, stiff muscles around your jaws
- Frequent headaches or neck aches
- Clicking, popping, grating when you open your mouth
- Difficulty or pain when opening your mouth to eat, or yawn
- An injury to your neck, head or jaw
- Arthritis in other joints
- Teeth that no longer touch when you bite
- Teeth that touch differently from time to time
- Sensitive, loose, broken or worn teeth
|
|
A thorough dental and medical history and evaluation by the
dentists at Half Moon Dental will help pinpoint the cause of your TMJ disorder and is the first step in planning a personalised treatment programme for you. Detailed casts of your teeth can determine if your teeth are coming together correctly and how your joints and surrounding muscles being out of position may be affecting your bite.
