Stop Teeth Grinding With A Custom Appliance

When you grind your teeth on a nightly basis, or clench them, then you could be suffering from a disorder known as bruxism. Without treatment, you could experience painful symptoms, and risk damaging your smile. Fortunately, your Ankeny, IA, dentist knows how to offer relief with a custom-made and comfortable oral appliance!

The Causes of Teeth Grinding

What causes us to grind our teeth? A number of factors could be responsible, including high levels of stress in your daily life, one or more missing teeth, imbalanced bite, uneven teeth, and injury to the face or jaw. Untreated TMJ disorder could also mean the onset of chronic teeth grinding and clenching. Warning signs include headaches and migraines, pain in your face or jaw, and soreness in the neck or shoulders. The pressure could also weaken tooth enamel, leading to tooth sensitivity and toothaches. If you experience one or more of these symptoms, then contact our team today. We can diagnose the presence of bruxism and offer a solution!

The Damage of Bruxism

The constant grinding and clenching could wear away the outer enamel, exposing the inner layers of dentin to bacteria and allowing cavities and infection to form. The teeth could also look short! Unless treated, your risk losing one or more teeth to serious oral health complications. To help until we offer care, try to avoid caffeinated products, and use a warm compress or washcloth to the side of the face to reduce tension. You should also avoid hard or chewy foods or snacks, or chewing on objects like pens or pencils, which could lead to greater discomfort and damage!

Treatment with a Custom Appliance

Treatment could vary, and include correcting misalignment or restoring balance with a custom dental restoration. However, we usually address the issue with an oral appliance. After we take a detailed impression of your smile, including images and measurements, we design and craft an oral appliance. The device will look and fit like a mouthguard. However, the device actually repositions the jaw to ease strain, and places a barrier between your upper and lower sets of teeth to prevent further damage. If you have any questions about treating teeth grinding, or if you have worn down or damaged teeth in need of restoration and repair, then contact our team today.

Do You Have Questions About Preventive Treatment?

Our team is ready to help patients stop the damage caused by teeth grinding, and enjoy relief. To learn more about our customized treatment options, then please schedule an appointment by calling Peddicord Family Dentistry in Ankeny, IA, today at (515) 963-3339. We also proudly serve patients of all ages who live in Bondurant, Polk City, and all surrounding communities.