Virginia beach Cosmetic and Neuromuscular Dentistry Blog - Dr. Michael Folck

Friday, September 18, 2015

Treatments for Bruxism

The medical term for grinding your teeth is bruxism. Bruxism can lead to serious damage to the teeth as well as painful TMD/TMJ symptoms. Even if you only grind your teeth while you are sleeping, there are effective treatments that can help you avoid common dental problems, including problems with the temporomandibular joint.

Bruxism Treatments

While some people may clench or grind their teeth during the day without realizing it, most people who suffer from bruxism do so while sleeping. During the day, you may catch yourself within a short period of time, and the harm is minimal, but bruxism while sleeping can go on for hours and cause serious discomfort. Treating bruxism is important to avoid more serious problems and prevent the headaches and neck and jaw pain of TMD/TMJ. There are three primary ways to treat bruxism:

  • Splint Therapy: a custom mouth guard can be made to protect your teeth and hold your jaw in the proper position while you sleep.
  • Orthodontics: when bruxism is caused by a misaligned bite, orthodontics can correct the underlying problem.
  • Stress Management: stress is another common cause of teeth grinding. By reducing stress, many people are able to control their bruxism to a much greater degree.
If your teeth grinding has led to TMD/TMJ problems, don’t wait to seek treatment. Neuromuscular dentist, Dr. Michael Folck has the experience and knowledge to determine if a dental treatment is appropriate. Please call (877) 206-3444 today for a consultation. We serve patients in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and the surrounding areas.

posted by Admin at 5:09 PM

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