Thursday, November 21, 2024
Latest:
Elation Dental: The Best Dentists and Denture Clinic in Croydon South, Ringwood, Heathmont, Bayswater, Kilsyth and surrounds!

Night guards for bruxing (night time tooth grinding)

Why do I grind my teeth, and what can I do about it?

Bruxism, also known as teeth grinding, is a common condition where a person clenches or grinds their teeth. It can occur during both wakefulness and sleep. Here are some key points about bruxism:

  1. Symptoms:
    • Teeth grinding or clenching: This can be loud enough to wake up your sleep partner!
    • Dental damage: Bruxism can lead to flattened, fractured, chipped, or loose teeth.
    • Tooth pain or sensitivity: Worn enamel exposes deeper layers of the tooth.
    • Jaw discomfort: Tired or tight jaw muscles, jaw pain, or a locked jaw.
    • Headaches: Dull headaches starting in the temples.
    • Other pain: Pain that feels like an earache (though it’s not an ear problem).
    • Sleep disruption: Bruxism can affect sleep quality.
  2. Causes:
    • Physical, psychological, and genetic factors: Awake bruxism may be due to emotions like stress, anxiety, or deep concentration. Sleep bruxism is associated with arousals during sleep.
    • Risk factors: Stress, age (common in children but usually resolves by adulthood), and personality type (aggressive, competitive, or hyperactive) increase the risk.

 

We'll make you a custom fitted night guard to reduce pains and further damage from tooth grinding!

Our most common treatment for tooth grinding is a night splint (also called a night guard). It's very different to a sport mouthguard! We do a 3D scan of your teeth, and a laboratoy custom makes a night splint - designed to be worn while you're sleeping. It won't stop you grinding, but will help relieve some of the aches and pains.

Night splint

This has a few names including bruxing splint, night guard or occlusal splint. It's a dental appliance that fits comfortably over the upper teeth, that will protect your teeth, fillings, crowns, veneers and implants from wear and tear. The splint can also help relieve muscle tension and joint pains.  Over time, the night guard will wear down - much better than having your teeth wear down! When it becomes loose or very worn, we'll construct a new one for you, using a new 3D scan of your teeth.

Call us on 9725 2029 or book online for an appointment to discuss your tooth grinding!

Tooth grinding causes damage to teeth, fillings and your jaw muscles!

Repair any existing damage

If tooth grading has cracked your teeth or fillings, we'll repair any problems to bring you back to full health first!

3D scanning for a night guard

Forget the old way of using a dental mould of your teeth - our 3D scanning technology is painless, easy, fast and accurate. We'll have a digital night guard constructed from your scan within a week or so!

Ongoing maintenance to watch for further damage!

If you grind a lot in your sleep, sometimes you'll also do it during the day - eg when working, studying, working out etc. Regular checkups at Elation Dental will pick up on any future problems while they're still small and manageable.