Don't live with constant teeth grinding that could ruin your beautiful smile. Instead reach out and ask Total Care Dental for our bruxism treatment and prevention options. Our specialists will come up with a solution to prevent any further damage and save your precious money making smile!
Bruxism is a condition involving involuntary teeth grinding (bruxing) and jaw clenching. Persistent bruxism wears down teeth and can cause them to crack, chip, and break over time. Repetitive grinding can cause gum recession and jaw disorders like TMJ. Total Care Dental of Madison offers superior dental health care services to prevent and treat bruxism in our patients. Our comprehensive dentists are specialists for spotting the early warning signs of bruxism.
During bruxing, the facial muscles around the jaw and sides of skull work very hard. This overuse can cause tenderness, muscle spasms and painful headaches. Ground teeth are more likely to crack and fall out. Initial signs of bruxism can be hard to notice, leading to many patients who are unaware of their condition. Regular dental visits will allow our dentists to keep track of signs of grinding and make an accurate diagnosis. Once diagnosed, bruxism treatment can begin. Earlier treatment leads to better recovery and healthier teeth.
Frequent headaches, unexplained tenderness in your jaw or your teeth becoming shorter are good indicators you may be grinding your teeth at night. Some people do not realize they clench their teeth at night until someone tells them. If you notice any of the following symptoms, schedule an appointment with our dentists right away.
Most people are unaware they grind their teeth because most clenching and grinding occurs during sleep, known as sleep bruxism or nocturnal teeth grinding. You might wake up with a sore jaw and have no idea of the cause. It is important to regularly visit our Madison dentists so we can spot changes in your teeth caused by sleep bruxism. Bruxism is considered a sleep disorder since the symptoms can lead to restless nights and insomnia. Treatment will protect your teeth and improve your ability to sleep!
Children who develop bruxism usually experience nocturnal bruxism rather than awake bruxism. Our pediatric dentistry services will let us keep tabs on their teeth to determine if they are grinding while they sleep.
The causes of bruxism are difficult to determine, but there are many suspected physical and psychological causes. Having a family history of bruxism may increase your chances of developing this condition. Additional causes may include the following:
Many dentists fail to diagnose and treat bruxism because the process of grinding down teeth takes place over many years. At Total Care Dental, we use the latest dental technology like X-rays and 3D imaging for accurate diagnosis. These digital images allow our dentists to track the changes in your teeth caused by grinding.
The key to preventing major problems is treatment when the first signs occur. Let our Madison family dentists know if you are experiencing any of the above symptoms. Before your dental appointment, you may want to prepare by listing the details of your symptoms and possible causes, as well as gathering any relevant medical records. For example, if you have a sleep condition it may be linked to your night bruxism.
Measuring Teeth for Bruxism Some questions about bruxism you may want to ask our dental experts include:
The treatment you receive will depend on the cause and type of bruxism you have. If you grind your teeth due to misaligned teeth, Invisalign clear braces may correct this problem. If you have sleep bruxism, you may need a night mouth guard to stop grinding. Read our FAQ to learn more about this and other dental health condition.
While our treatment options will protect your teeth and jaw, bruxism can be a side effect of other health conditions. After receiving a bruxism diagnosis, check with your primary care physician to see if you have any related disorders. Sleep apnea can lead to night bruxism while ADHD can cause awake bruxism. Diagnosing these conditions can alleviate your bruxism.
Jaw clenching can cause pain and lead to headaches. Teeth grinding can cause damage to dental crowns and veneers. Getting treated early will prevent many of these issues. If your teeth are damaged from grinding, our reconstructive dentistry will repair the damage.
Before your appointment with Total Care Dental, see if you can relieve your symptoms at home. This can make it easier to determine the cause of your teeth grinding and jaw clenching. Here are some self-care tips for preventing and coping with bruxism:
Schedule regular exams at TCD to continually monitor your bruxism. If diagnosed at an early stage, our dentists will recommend a fitted occlusal guard for you to wear at night to relax the jaw muscles and prevent teeth from wearing down. High performance mouth guards will help reduce grinding during the day.
Once significant wear occurs from grinding, our dedicated dentists may recommend building your teeth back to the original size to get proper functions. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms of bruxism, call our Madison family dentist today to make an appointment.
Total Care Dental accepts most dental insurance providers and has many payment plan options. We want all of our patients to be able to afford the care they need. We even accept cash as payment! Learn more about our dental financing today or call our offices for more information on low cost bruxism treatment.
You don't have to live with ground down teeth. Keep your teeth healthy by getting treatment. Schedule a consultation with our dentists to learn about bruxism treatment or dental tooth replacement options for damaged teeth.
Our team of compassionate and knowledgeable professionals create a warm, inviting atmosphere, ensuring patients of all ages feel welcome. At TCD, we treat every patient like a member of our family.
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The Share a Smile program allows the staff of TCD to give back to our local community. One day a month, we provide free dentistry services to our neighbors in need. We work in partnership with the Middleton Outreach Ministry (MOM) and are looking to join with more churches, low-income housing facilities, and food pantries to expand our reach.
Check out our website to learn more about the Share a Smile program. Even if you do not meet the eligibility requirements for free dentistry, our dental financing plans make preventative, cosmetic, and restorative services easily affordable for our Madison patients.
