Cosmetic Dentist in Palm Beach Gardens:
Night Guards: Protect your Investment

Grinding and Clenching (Bruxism)

Over 90% of the population grind or clench their teeth on a regular basis at some point in their lives? And this isn’t just another meaningless statistic. People who have otherwise healthy teeth and gums can clench so often and so hard that over time they begin to experience jaw pain, tense muscles, and headaches as well as excessive wear on their teeth. Forceful biting when not eating may even cause the jaw to move out of proper balance. Bruxism is a subconscious behavior many patients don’t realize they’re doing until their partner tells them about the nighttime sounds their grinding and clenching produces! Ordinarily, teeth are in contact while eating and swallowing, for only ten to fifteen minutes on a daily basis. Researchers say that one night of grinding is equivalent to eighty days of normal wear. People who grind and clench their teeth during the day or while sleeping can have their teeth in heavy contact for as much as six hours a day! And may appear to have no teeth at all when they smile.

Porcelain restorations can renew a smile that has been damaged by bruxism. However, if the condition is diagnosed early enough, the inevitable destruction of the teeth can be slowed, or prevented completely by use of a bite splint or night guard. A bite splint is a hard or soft appliance that fits onto your teeth and keeps them from coming into contact with each other. No other treatment protects the teeth during grinding or clenching as well, or as inexpensively as a bite splint. Have us check your teeth for signs of clenching and grinding. With our help, and the use of a properly fitted bite splint, you can look forward to giving up your grinding headache!

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