Understanding Bruxism and Treatment Strategies
Bruxism, a common oral parafunctional activity, involves the grinding and clenching of teeth, occurring both during wakefulness and sleep. It’s recognized as one of the prevalent sleep disorders, predominantly causing damage during sleep hours. The condition arises due to a faulty chewing reflex, active during sleep in bruxism sufferers but inactive in non-sufferers.
Typically, bruxism involves lateral grinding of the incisors and canines, which strains the medial pterygoid muscles and temporomandibular joints. Symptoms such as earaches, headaches, depression, and anxiety often accompany bruxism, resembling those of other health issues like chronic stress and Alzheimer’s disease. Diagnosis is often challenging, requiring differentiation from tooth wear caused by various factors like aggressive brushing or acidic foods.
BiteStrip®, an affordable at-home diagnostic device, monitors jaw muscle activity during sleep, aiding in assessing the condition’s severity and frequency for devising appropriate treatment plans.
Prompt treatment of bruxism is essential for several reasons:
- Gum recession and tooth loss: Bruxism contributes significantly to gum recession and tooth loss by directly damaging soft tissues and promoting bacterial colonization in deep pockets.
- Occlusal trauma: Abnormal wear patterns from bruxism can lead to tooth fractures necessitating restorative treatments.
- Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) arthritis: Severe and chronic bruxism may result in painful arthritis in the TMJ joints.
- Myofascial pain: Grinding associated with bruxism can cause headaches and muscle pain in the myofascial region due to tooth shortening and blunting.
Various treatment options are available for bruxism:
- Mouthguards: Custom acrylic mouthguards minimize tooth surface abrasion during sleep and stabilize occlusion to prevent tooth and TMJ damage.
- NTI-tss device: This device covers only the front teeth, aiming to limit temporalis muscle contraction and prevent rear molar grinding.
- Botox®: Injections weaken muscles to alleviate grinding without hindering everyday functions like chewing and speaking.
- Other treatments include relaxation exercises, stress management education, and biofeedback mechanisms, followed by dental procedures like crowns, gum grafts, and crown lengthening to restore smile aesthetics.
If you have concerns about bruxism, don’t hesitate to reach out to our office for guidance and assistance.