What Is Bruxism?
Grinding your teeth, a condition known as bruxism, can cause serious damage. Teeth grinding wears down your enamel and increases your chance of breaking a tooth, developing jaw pain and aggravating TMJ dysfunction.
Most teeth grinding happens unconsciously, when you’re sleeping or under a lot of stress. It may seem like a minor bad habit, but years of teeth grinding can result in severe enamel wear over time and expensive dental treatment that could be prevented. At Dr. Saba and Associates in Sun Lakes, Arizona, we can help protect you from the effects of this involuntary but harmful habit.
How Do You Prevent Bruxism?
We treat bruxism using a custom occlusal splint- which is a mouth guard specifically designed to prevent teeth grinding. The splint is made of acrylic resin, and guides the jaw so that you can’t misalign it or grind your teeth. Occlusal splints can also help with sleep apnea by positioning the jaw to allow more air into the mouth.
Getting a custom occlusal splint takes two appointments. First, we’ll take impressions of your teeth and send them to a dental laboratory that fabricates your custom splint. When your splint is ready, you’ll come back to try it on so we can ensure that it fits you comfortably. We’ll test the splint by asking you to move your jaw into different positions, making sure you can’t grind your teeth. If everything feels right, we will give you instructions for using it to keep your teeth healthy.
Bruxism Prevention Therapy in Sun Lakes, Arizona
In our rushed, modern world, almost everyone is a candidate for bruxism prevention therapy. If you notice that you wake up with jaw pain after a night’s sleep, or catch yourself grinding your teeth throughout the day, the team at Dr. Saba and Associates in Sun Lakes, Arizona, is here to help!
Bruxism prevention therapy can improve your dental health and your general wellbeing. Visit us for a consultation to get your questions answered and find out if you’re a candidate for bruxism prevention therapy.