Office Hours: Barton Mon-Fri: 8:00am - 5:00pm | Belconnen Mon-Fri: 8:00am - 5:00pm
02 6273 8885
Barton
8A/3 Sydney Avenue, Barton
Office Hours: Barton Mon-Fri: 8:00am - 5:00pm | Belconnen Mon-Fri: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Barton
8A/3 Sydney Avenue, Barton
Do You Suffer From Aching Teeth And Jaws In Your Waking Hours? This Could Be Due Unconscious Teeth Grinding During Your Sleep….
An Occlusal Splint (also called a bite splint, bite plane, or night guard) is a removable dental appliances carefully molded to fit the upper or lower arches of teeth worn at night to reduce the amount of grinding pressure transferred to the teeth. It offers relief for the muscles of the jaw and protection of the teeth from wear and breakage.
Teeth grinding and clenching also known as Bruxism generally occurs during sleep and can often go undetected. Bruxism is generally caused by psychological stress, anxiety and tension in your waking life. Bruxism causes chips in the teeth, wear of the biting surface and cracks in the teeth. This wears down tooth enamel, removes the sharp biting surfaces and flattens the edges of the teeth. Sometimes there is a tendency to grind the molars together, often a partner or family member is first to notice the sufferers condition due to this noise associated with this grinding throughout the night. Bruxism is one of the worlds most common sleep disorders. Over a period of time, tooth damage will occur and may also cause tooth loss. If enough enamel has been worn, the softer dentine will be exposed. This also leaves you at greater risk of tooth decay and also tooth fracture and in some people, gum recession. Early intervention is advisable.
Symptoms of teeth clenching and grinding can include:
Treatment may involve wearing an occlusal splint over night to prevent the teeth in the upper and lower arches from making contact. Alternatively neuromuscular treatment may be required to relax and retrain jaw muscles to rest and function as normal.
Occlusal Splints are straightforward to make: impression paste is used to make models of your teeth, and our technician builds the Splint based on information about your bite that your dentist will provide.
Occlusal Splints may take a little getting used to, but most people find that within a night or two they are completely comfortable wearing their Splint. It is best not to eat or drink with a Splint in place, but most people find that conversation is possible.
Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ) syndrome is an umbrella term covering acute or chronic inflammation of the temporomandibular joint, which connects the mandible to the skull. Misalignment of the jaw, facial and cranial structure can cause TMJ Disorders resulting in tension in all areas of the cranium, neck, shoulders and spine. If the jaw is not properly aligned, it can trigger severe headaches, tinnitus, pressure behind the eyes and vertigo (dizziness). Patients who grind teeth during their sleep will feel further pain and discomfort. Symptoms often involve more than one of the numerous TMJ components: muscles, nerves, tendons, ligaments, bones, connective tissue, and the teeth. Ear pain associated with the swelling of proximal tissue can also be a symptom.
Typically, symptoms of TMJ syndrome include:
TMJ disorders can also cause a clicking sound or grating sensation when you open your mouth or chew. If there’s no pain or limitation of movement associated with your jaw clicking you probably don’t have a TMJ disorder.
If you have any of these symptoms contact A1 dental Belconnen, north Canberra to make a time for a consultation. We will recommend what type of treatment is needed for your particular problem. Treatment may involve a series of steps and often only minor, relatively non-invasive treatment may be needed.
Malocclusions can start with a child’s first breath and swallow. Tongue action and the force of breath through nasal passages shape facial bones. Any disturbance to these habits can result in an aberrant growth pattern. Allergies lack of or incorrect breastfeeding, large tonsils or adenoids and poor nutrition are the fundamental causes. Thumb sucking, mouth breathing, tongue thrust and lip suck habits will continue to reinforce this problem.
Stress can also be a key contributor in the development of TMJ. The external influence of anxiety results in clenched jaws and tight shoulders. By clenching your jaw you may be compressing jaw points. In which case the back jaw ligament will stretch and become inflamed. Your jaw disc may also become dislocated; resulting in a popping sound when you open your mouth widely (whilst talking, eating or yawning).
Contact us today to schedule a consultation and take the first step towards a healthy smile and functional bite.