It often comes as a surprise to many people that the cause of their headaches, tooth wear or broken teeth is teeth grinding. Because teeth grinding often occurs during sleep, many patients don’t realize they have a problem. Dr. Wallach is able to identify these problems for patients when they visit his Nyack, NY dental office and recommend treatment options to stop teeth grinding and alleviate associated symptoms.
Teeth Grinding
Teeth Grinding Causes and Symptoms
Teeth grinding, known as Bruxism by dentists, is usually caused by stress. Stress can be from environmental sources and/or from stress in the occlusal system. When the teeth, jaw joints and muscles aren’t working in harmony, it creates tension which leads to facial pain, headaches, teeth grinding and other problems.
Signs of teeth grinding often include:
- Worn teeth, look for teeth that have chips or flat spots
- Dull teeth, because of worn tooth enamel
- Sensitive teeth
- Jaw pain
- Chronic earache without ear infection
- Headache or facial pain
- Cuts or sores on the inside of the cheek
Treatment for Teeth Grinding
Dr. Wallach may use a number of techniques to treat teeth grinding and bring the occlusal system into proper function. Because so often the alignment or contact of teeth is a problem, Dr. Wallach has been very successful treating teeth grinding with reshaping procedures. Dr. Wallach is able to reshape teeth so that the jaw closes in a comfortable position, eliminating stress on the joints and relieving pain.
Reshaping of the teeth may include:
- Removing tooth structure
- Cosmetic bonding
- Dental crowns or veneers
- Invisalign therapy
- Implant dentistry
Teeth Grinding Mouth Guard
A teeth grinding mouthguard is another common treatment that is used by Dr. Wallach to prevent patients from grinding their teeth at night. The teeth grinding mouth guard is a customized, removable appliance that fits over the teeth, similar to a sports mouth guard.