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Bruxism (night time grinding of teeth)
Many dentists recognize the negative effects of chronic clenching and grinding. Unfortunately because it is an occurrence that often happens only during deep sleep, many patients have no awareness of it.
A recent study was completed of patients who showed various signs of bruxism, but had no awareness of the problem. This study showed that during deep sleep, tooth to tooth contact occurred for as little as two minutes, and that the two minutes of grinding was spread over several episodes of a few seconds each. However the pressure that was exerted on the teeth during this deep sleep contact was enormous and that the damage accumulated over several years.
Dentists have found that clenching and grinding your teeth can have a serious negative effect. After years of this activity, something has to give.
- Sometimes the muscles of the face, neck or side of the head breakdown, causing headaches, stiff neck muscles, or limited ability to open the mouth or to chew properly.
- For others, teeth chip and crack
- The jaw bone under the gums often begins to loose density and it pulls away from the roots of the teeth
- Gums can recede
- "Abfractions" of the root surface form. Abfractions are notches in a tooth's root that form at the junction of the tooth and gum. Dentists and hygienists used to think that these lesions were caused by "tooth brush abrasion". Studies have shown that these notches are caused not so much from improper brushing. When strong clenching and or grinding of teeth occurs, the teeth try to bend a tiny bit, and microscopic cracks occur in the root structure. As these tiny cracks join each other, small pieces of tooth flake away, as this process continues, the gums recede and a notch forms on the root surface.
- The jaw joint can become damaged and a popping or clicking can be heard or felt when chewing or opening of the mouth
Fortunately this problem can be treated with a custom, well fitting appliance, called a Night Guard. Night Guards can be designed, fabricated and delivered in two short appointments.
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