Have you noticed that your teeth are worn or chipped? Do you wake up with pain in the jaw or face? Have you been told you grind your teeth in your sleep?
Bruxism, also known as chronic teeth grinding, is a condition that affects millions of people who clench or grind their teeth regularly. While a mild case of teeth grinding may not require treatment, chronic, long-term teeth grinding can lead to serious problems. You are more susceptible to tooth wear, jaw disorders, frequent headaches, and gum disease.
Routine Visits Can Prevent Damage From Teeth Grinding
Regular visits to the dentist are necessary to avoid damaged teeth as a result of teeth grinding. Drs. Trinkner and Keefer can often identify the signs of bruxism through a visual dental exam. Depending on the extent of injury and cause of teeth grinding, our dental care team offers a variety of treatment options to help stop teeth grinding.
Repair tooth damage and restore your bite’s function with Dr. Trinkner and Dr. Keefer today. Our Columbia SC dental care team will provide you with the comfort you deserve.
Teeth Grinding Causes
Teeth grinding can have a variety of causes. Our team will thoroughly evaluate your dental health and occlusion to identify dysfunction and imbalance. Treating the cause of your bruxism, not just the symptoms, is the key to a lasting and comfortable result. The most common causes of this dental issue are:
- Stress, anxiousness
- Malocclusion, or crooked teeth
- Medical conditions including Parkinson’s and Huntington’s diseases
- Sleep Apnea
Bruxism Treatment in Columbia, SC
There are several options for the treatment of teeth grinding. Everyone’s oral health condition is different, so it’s best to visit your dentist to determine the right treatment for your smile. We strive to achieve three goals with bruxism treatment: stop teeth grinding, correct occlusal instability, and repair damaged teeth.
Dr. Trinkner and Dr. Keefer restore proper balance to your occlusion (bite) by gently reshaping the teeth, so they make proper contact. This will also eliminate stress on your jaw joints and relieve pain.
Reshaping of the teeth may include:
- Shortening teeth: This process includes strategically removing a small portion of tooth structure to realign your bite.
- Tooth lengthening: This process uses dental crowns or porcelain veneers to reshape problem teeth.
- Orthodontic treatments: Usually for mild to moderate issues, Invisalign can be used.
- Implant dentistry: Sometimes gaps in your bite cause teeth grinding issues. We can replace missing teeth with dental implants.
Teeth Grinding Night Guards & Mouthguards
Teeth grinding mouthguards may be helpful for some patients to stop teeth grinding at night. Teeth grinding night guards are customized, removable oral appliances that fit over your teeth. To create a custom night guard, our dentists will take an impression of your teeth and create a mold.
This mold will be used to fabricate your oral appliance in a dental lab. Night guards are only worn while you sleep, and are a great way of preventing further damage.
Schedule a Dental Exam and Consultation
Contact our Columbia, SC dentist office to find out what treatment options are best to help you stop teeth grinding. Call us at 803-400-8729 or request an appointment online today.