Night guards (for teeth grinding)
Bruxism is excessive teeth grinding or jaw clenching, and is a very common parafunction. It is estimated that up to 35% of the general population is grinding or clenching the jaw. The most common symptoms associated with bruxism are teeth hypersensitivity, aching jaw/ face muscles, headaches, excessive tooth wear and damage to dental restorations (e.g. fillings, crowns, bridges etc). It is not uncommon for the patient to be unaware of the condition, as it often happens when the patient is sleeping, however the effects of bruxism can be both painful and expensive.
Although there is no ‘cure’ for bruxism, we can limit the damage and manage the condition by protecting the teeth with a night guard, and in some cases weaken the over-active muscles by injecting botulinum toxin to help the muscles relax. There are also specific relaxation exercised that your dentist will advice you about. During your consultation, your dentist will assess your teeth, jaws, neck, muscles and temporomandibular joints (TMJ) and discuss all appropriate treatment options with you