If you often feel pain in your face and jaw, particularly when you wake up, you should be concerned. This can be a warning that you are struggling with bruxism, a condition that causes an individual to grind their teeth throughout the night while they rest. Over time, this can have several worrying consequences. You can wind up with damaged teeth that look older, misshapen, or generally less healthy. If the problem goes on for too long, you may need restorative dental work for more badly damaged teeth by the time you see your dentist! At our Ankeny, IA dentist’s office, we can identify signs of bruxism during a routine dental checkup, or we can provide a consultation for you if you think this problem is affecting you. In order to protect your smile, we can recommend the use of an oral appliance you can wear while you sleep to keep your teeth apart.
Nightly Teeth Grinding Can Have Serious Consequences
If nightly teeth grinding starts to become an issue for you, several concerning developments can take place. At first, you may begin waking up with pain or stiffness in your jaw, sore teeth, and even issues with pains in your face and neck. If the problem is not resolved, the persistent friction on your enamel can lead to teeth chipping and cracking, which can leave you with a smile that looks less healthy, and also less attractive. You are capable of wearing your teeth down to the point of causing potentially serious damage, which makes restorative dental work necessary.
What Can I Do To Protect My Smile While I Sleep?
With a custom oral guard provided by your dentist, you can make sure that your teeth stay protected throughout the night. The guard will be made to fit comfortably, so it can be relied on to stay in position. When worn, it will gently keep your upper and lower teeth separated. The prevention of grinding can also reduce tension on your jaw joints and muscles, which can reduce aches and pains.
Restoring Teeth That Have Already Been Damaged
If you already have dental damage to address, we can determine the right treatment based on the severity of harm that you have experienced. For minor wear and tear, a dental bonding procedure can help, or we can make plans to improve your smile with porcelain veneers. If teeth appear to be chipped or cracked, we may need to use dental crowns to fully restore them.
Talk To Your Ankeny, IA Dentist’s Office About Treating Bruxism
At our Ankeny, IA dentist’s office, patients who are affected by bruxism can enjoy welcome relief from their problem. In addition to keeping your teeth safe against further grinding, we can provide services to restore the way they look so that you no longer have to feel self-conscious about wear and tear. contact Dental Impressions at (515) 965-0230 to schedule a visit.
