Occlusal Splints & Night Guards
Occasional teeth grinding and clenching is very common, and it happens to all of us from time to time. When you’re under stress, for instance, you may find yourself grinding or clenching your teeth. But excessive teeth grinding (bruxism or bruxing) can wear down and even destroy your teeth.
Teeth grinding often occurs while you sleep, so you may not be aware that it’s happening. Common signs that you grind your teeth during sleep are chronic headaches upon waking and unexplained shoulder and neck pain.
A Solution That Provides Relief
These symptoms can be so severe that they impact your quality of life, but we offer treatment options at our Covina dental office that can protect your oral health and eliminate painful symptoms. In many cases Dr. Huang can create a custom-made night guard – also referred to as an occlusal splint – that will provide the relief you need.
The appliance is designed to allow your upper and lower jaw to come together without tooth contact. This prevents teeth grinding, eliminates chronic discomfort, and restores the normal movement of your jaw.
Causes of Teeth Grinding
The reasons for teeth grinding are different from person to person, but chronic grinding and clenching is often related to a misaligned dental bite. When your teeth are out of alignment, your back teeth become unbalanced.
If your bite is not balanced, you don’t bite evenly on both sides, and the joint in your jaw has to shift out of its natural position to bring the rest of your teeth together. The result is that you grind and clench your teeth, placing abnormal force on one side of your mouth. This is why you experience head and neck pain.
Problems Associated With Teeth Grinding
Aside from its painful symptoms, the constant force placed on your teeth by grinding and clenching can lead to serious oral health problems, including:
- Loose teeth
- Excessive, uneven wear on teeth
- Fractured or chipped teeth
- TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorder)
Addressing the problem with splint therapy is an easy and affordable way to prevent these problems from occurring. Without treatment, more costly and involved solutions, like dental crowns, may be necessary.
Personalized Patient Care
Before we decide if an occlusal splint is right for you, Dr. Huang will talk to you about your symptoms and examine your teeth to find the reason for your teeth grinding. We provide personalized care and will take every step necessary to find the solution that protects your oral health and eliminates unnecessary discomfort.
If we determine that your problem cannot be corrected with a night guard, we will be happy to refer you to a specialist for further evaluation.
Contact Our Office to Get the Help You Need
You don’t have to spend another day allowing the symptoms of teeth grinding to negatively impact your life. If you know or suspect that your symptoms are caused by teeth grinding, please contact our dental office in Covina to arrange a consultation and get the relief you need. Call 626-332-1014 today!
