Dr. Mogell Dental Blog

Boca Raton Cosmetic Dentist

Life got you clenching?

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Are you clenching?

The economy affects us in many different ways, physically, psychologically and in ways that we may not even be aware of. The tension that accompanies these wildly unpredictable times can be transmitted directly to your teeth. Stressful situation will in many cases promote clenching and grinding of our teeth, bruxism. This will generate and transmit abnormal forces directly to your teeth. The impact of bruxism can cause irregular wear on your teeth and could even result in a tooth fracturing! You could develop a TMJ disorder as a result of bruxism. Do you wake up with sore teeth or sore muscles? These could be signs that you are experiencing grinding or clenching of your teeth while you sleep. Bruxism doesn't just occur at night while you sleep as most people believe. Many of us grind our teeth while going about our normal daily activities.
So what can you do to protect your teeth from the consequences of bruxism? During your waking hours, try and be mindful of the grinding. Biofeedback can be effective in breaking the habit by bring it to a conscious level. We do have some skills we can teach you on how to address bruxism during the day. When addressing clenching and grinding at night it is a little more difficult. The most successful way to treat bruxism during sleep is to wear an orthotic appliance that many people refer to as a "nightguard". This is a custom made hard plastic device that is worn over your lower teeth. The dentist precisely adjusts the way your teeth meet when wearing the "nightguard" so that you achieve a near perfect bite. Bottom line, it is better to wear the plastic down then to cause irreversible wear on your teeth. If you are experiencing the symptoms of bruxism, please call our office to arrange an examination to determine if you can benefit from a "nightguard".
We can be reached at 561-394-9000 to schedule an appointment today.

Kenneth A. Mogell, D.M.D.