Teeth grinding

Bruxism is an unconscious habit of grinding the teeth. This grinding usually occurs at night during deep sleep, but it can also happen during the day.

Causes

The exact cause of bruxism is not yet fully understood, but stress plays a significant role in its development. Other contributing factors may include inadequate dental restorations (fillings, crowns), malocclusion, and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction.

Symptoms and Consequences

• Tooth wear and abrasion; in some cases, this wear is accompanied by angular lesions at the neck of the teeth (abfraction)
• Fractures of dental restorations (fillings, crowns)
• Gum damage (gingival recession)
• Tooth hypersensitivity
• Headaches or ear pain
• Jaw pain and discomfort in the temporomandibular joint upon waking

Treatment

Treatment for teeth grinding (bruxism) may include medication, relaxation and meditation exercises, psychotherapy, and physiotherapy. However, the most effective short-term solution to prevent or stop the harmful effects of bruxism is wearing an occlusal splint (night guard).

This occlusal splint is custom-made in a dental laboratory using impressions of the patient’s dental arches.