If you wake up with sore teeth, an aching jaw, and stiffness in your face and neck, the reason could be nighttime teeth grinding. This problem, which is also known as bruxism, can make it hard for you to start your mornings in good spirits. Over time, it can cause more harm by damaging teeth! At our Upton, MA dental practice, we are prepared to help you deal with this problem by supplying you with a custom appliance to wear while you sleep. When the appliance has been put in place, it keeps your teeth from connecting when you unconsciously try to grind or clench your teeth, which has the effect of stopping potential damage from occurring. The presence of your appliance can also alleviate stress on your jaw joints and muscles.
Bruxism Puts Your Smile At Serious Risk
If you continue to let bruxism affect your teeth, the problem can become serious. You may be surprised at how much force you are exerting when you clench or grind your teeth at night. Over time, the pressure that you create may lead to visible wear and tear that hurts your smile. If the matter goes further, you could wind up with chipped or cracked teeth that require restorative dental work. While the damage to your smile is worth noting, it should be pointed out that there are additional concerns. You may wind up with chronic pain and limited jaw movement because of stress on your joints and muscles.
A Custom Appliance Can Stop Nighttime Teeth Grinding From Hurting Your Smile
By crafting a custom appliance for you to use at night, we can give you a means of stopping bruxism from doing progressive harm to your smile. The custom design of your soft oral appliance can ensure that you feel comfortable with its presence, so you can still fall asleep without difficulty. Throughout the night, its presence can stop you from damaging your smile through grinding or clenching, and it can reduce jaw tension.
Do You Have Teeth That Need To Be Restored?
If you already have teeth that look misshapen, damaged, or even broken because of bruxism, we are ready to help. In order to correct minor damages, we can recommend porcelain veneers. Veneers only cover the fronts of teeth, so the amount of work done on your tooth structure is limited. For more serious injuries, we may need to recommend placing dental crowns. When crowns are put in place, they cover the entirety of teeth above your gum line, and offer important functional protection as you bite and chew.
Talk To Dr. Goguen About Your Issues With Nighttime Teeth Grinding
At our Upton, MA dental practice, we are prepared to help patients who struggle with nighttime teeth grinding! If you would like to learn more, you can contact Upton Dental at 508-529-4591 to schedule an appointment.