Grinding teeth is a habit that occurs mostly during sleep. It is a dental condition with a relatively unknown origin. Someone who sleeps with crackling sounds and a lower jaw moving laterally would most probably have this condition.
Technically known as bruxism, grinding teeth is apparently brought about by emotional factors. Stress, anxiety and depression are the top three culprits that this condition is being attributed to. However, patients who have this condition might be totally unaware of it. It does not manifest when one is fully awake. What is left for them to feel afterwards is recurring pain or a feeling of tightness at the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) area, that joint which connects the lower jaw to the skull.
The most obvious manifestation of grinding teeth is the flat biting (occlusal) surfaces of their molars (posterior teeth). The constant and involuntary lateral jaw motion causes the enamels (outermost portion of the teeth) to wear off. Have you tried checking your teeth in the mirror? You would see lobes and sharp tips on the topmost part. These become flat and smooth with a chronic case of bruxism.
Treatment options for grinding teeth vary from simple hot packs to numerous visits to specialists. A quick rundown of options will be discussed below.
1. Restoration. As discussed above, flat occlusal surfaces are the end-stage sign of bruxism. This can be treated by either of two options:
• It can be restored to its normal appearance by light curing (commonly known as the laser or white filling). Restorative material is carved into the shape of the lost tip and cured. These might be able to replace the lost portion, but it will be abraded as well in time. Bear in mind that grinding teeth happens involuntarily. The frequency could be proportional to sleeping – as one sleeps, expect it to happen.
• Another would be by using replacement crowns (porcelain or plastic). Each affected tooth is trimmed down to accommodate a new crown. This is more advisable due to longevity. Crowns can stay for a longer time even if the patient is still exhibiting signs and symptoms of bruxism.
However, do not be mislead into believing that the porcelain crowns will never be abraded. They will still be, so it is still mandatory to maintain checkups with your dentist every six months to monitor the condition of the replacement crowns.
2. Seek further help. Consultation with a TMJ specialist would be essential to better address the condition. They are more capable of providing specific treatment as this is within the realm of their expertise. Treatment options that would be likely advised can be in the form of hot packs (to mitigate bouts of pain) or a splint, an appliance used to correct discrepancies in jaw alignment. An extensive discussion between the patient and the specialist is essential to make sure that details are fully understood, as TMJ treatment may be seemingly simple, but in all actuality, it is a rather complex field.
3. Use of therapeutic appliances such as night guards may also be of assistance. This is a device that is worn by the patient at night. It is properly fitted against the tooth surfaces (like gloves to your hands) which act as protection as the process of grinding teeth commences while one is in deep sleep.
Night guards or mouth guards are usually made of thermoplastic material that can either be hard or flexible. It is vacuum-fitted against the patient’s cast (done after taking the impression of the dentition) by a specially designed machine. The hard types are more practical as it is more capable of resisting the forces of grinding. The flexible type is much like rubber, which can also be abraded and wear off in just a few months.
4. Behavioral approach. This targets the non-tangible cause – emotions. Advising a patient to engage in therapies such as meditation, acupuncture or yoga addresses a patient’s disposition. These procedures reportedly help greatly in mitigating symptoms because treatment is directly geared towards the apparent source.
Another special point to consider though that is often overlooked is whether one is living alone or with family. Why? A few incidences of grinding teeth in children would certainly call the attention of responsible parents. Perhaps a daughter might mention over breakfast about tautness in her face upon waking up. Questions will then flood and eventually lead to a dental appointment. But for the independent woman, she would only be aware of it once she visits the dental office and is informed of massive abrasions on the biting surfaces of her molar teeth.
There is a great fraction of people actually afflicted with this condition. However, they are not properly identified due to lack of information and fear of anything dental. In every treatment phase, awareness is key. The mere fact that you are conscious of your son’s grinding teeth bouts would compel you to take the necessary action.
If you need an effective solution for a Toothache? Click Here!
DentalPlans.com - Choose from over 30 top-quality national and regional discount dental plans.
