When you grind and clench your teeth on a persistent basis, then you need help. Otherwise, bruxism could wear down and damage teeth, leaving you at-risk for tooth decay and infection! Which is why your team at Elm Creek Dental offers oral appliance therapy for Maple Grove, MN, patients with bruxism.
The Causes and Common Symptoms of Teeth Grinding
What causes someone to grind their teeth on a nightly basis? For some, high stress levels could be responsible. For others, imbalance brought on by missing teeth, misalignment, injury, wisdom tooth eruption, or concerns with the growth of your jaw could be a factor. Understanding the cause is the key to securing the best treatment option and bringing your smile relief. You should contact us at the first warning signs, which could include tooth sensitivity when you eat or drink, or a persistent toothache that only grows in severity. You could notice your teeth appear shorter, and there could be pain in the face, jaw, and head. Your significant other could also alter you to your teeth grinding episodes. Don’t ignore these potential symptoms, see our team right away!
Treating Your Bruxism
For most people, we can offer relief from bruxism with a custom oral appliance. Our team will begin by taking detailed images and measurements of your teeth, doing so with digital technology. This allows us to create a 3D computer impression, one far more accurate than a traditional physical one. Our team then uses this to design and custom-fit an oral appliance, a device that will look and fit much like a mouthguard. When worn, this will help reposition your jaw to ease underlying stress and strain on your bite. At the same time, this places a soft barrier between the upper and lower sets of teeth, which helps limit the risk of further injury down the road. The oral appliance will be easy to use and clean, and it can even travel with you should you hit the road for summer vacation in the next month or so!
Repairing Your Teeth
What if your bruxism has damaged a tooth? We can often repair minor chips in the tooth’s structure with dental bonding, using a composite resin to restore the tooth in one sitting and ensure lifelike results. If you have more serious breakage or a fracture, we could offer help with a custom (and lifelike) dental crown, made for your smile! If you have any questions about how we treat bruxism and repair your teeth, then contact our team today.
Elm Creek Dental Stops Teeth Grinding
Our team wants to help stop teeth grinding and protect you from major oral health concerns. To find out more about general dentistry, then call Elm Creek Dental in Maple Grove, MN, today at 763-416-0606.