TMJ & Bruxism Treatment

Bruxism, or teeth grinding and clenching, can cause unusual wear to the biting surfaces of your teeth and even cracking within teeth. Because bruxism is often due to daily stress, anxiety and frustrations. Most people grind their teeth occasionally. Problems can arise, however, when bruxism becomes a habit that people are unaware mostly at night during sleep but during daytime as well. In this case, Herndon dentist Dr. Dilolli can prescribe an oral appliance known as a night guard or bite plate that protects teeth against the damage bruxism can cause.

Teeth grinding involves a sideways motion of the jaw that causes the surfaces of opposing teeth to rub together. Clenching occurs when your upper and lower teeth clamp together, may noticeably happen at moments of stress causing muscle fatigue. The cumulative effect of teeth grinding and clenching can cause damage to tooth enamel, the outermost surface of your teeth that is the hardest material in the human body. But even enamel will succumb to bruxism after time. In fact, among people who begin grinding and clenching their teeth at a young age, enamel may erode as much as two millimeters by the time they reach their mid-twenties; normally, enamel erodes about .3 millimeters every decade.

Although enamel erosion may not visible, other damage that bruxism causes can be evident and includes:

• Teeth that are worn and flat, and thus may appear uneven giving an untimely “aged appearance”
• Cracks and damage to fillings
• Sensitive teeth, because enamel is worn and tooth dentin is exposed
• Receding gums
• Teeth that are made loose by the sideways motion of grinding
• Headaches, jaw pain and other similar symptoms

Thus, the need to treat bruxism is obvious. When you come to Virginia Dentistry by Design for a dental checkup, Dr. Dilolli or one of our highly-trained hygienists will examine your teeth for these signs of bruxism. If found, we can design a custom-fitted night guard. Worn at night during sleep—or even during the day by some patients whose bruxism is particularly troublesome—this oral appliance places a comfortable yet hard acrylic barrier between your upper and lower arches of teeth. A night guard does not cure bruxism, but it does absorb the force of the grinding and clenching that would otherwise damage teeth.

If any of your teeth are showing the signs of grinding and clenching—or if someone else tells you that they’ve heard the telltale sound of grinding emanating from your mouth—then schedule an examination with Dr. Dilolli. With a night guard, you can spare your smile the damaging harm of bruxism.