A chief concern of patients, especially as they age, is that their teeth are chipping, seem shorter or thinner, or more yellow or translucent. The teeth may appear flat or have little divots at the gumline. Perhaps you’ve even been told that you “brush too hard.” All the above are indications of bruxism, “teeth grinding.”
There are numerous causes for clenching and grinding including: spinal alignment, sleep apena, neurologic issues, stress, and TMJ abnormalities and/or muscles tension, to name a few. My goal as a dentist is always to protect the teeth from breakage and trauma, but all splints and night guards are not created equal. Understanding a patient’s unique triggers and pathways are crucial to selecting the correct appliance and preserving the structural integrity of one’s teeth and overall health.