Have you ever been told that you grind your teeth? Tooth grinding (bruxism) is an oral habit which involves clenching and grinding of the teeth. It is not uncommon in our society. Approximately 50% to 96% of adults experience bruxism and 15% of children acquire this behavior. Most often, this habit goes unnoticed by the person. Bruxism can occur during the day or night. We invite you to call Parkway Dental at 919-380-9622 to learn more about bruxism and schedule your appointment with our experienced dentist in Cary, North Carolina.

Bruxism has no specific cause, but is believed to be more prevalent in certain individuals such as:

• People with emotionally stressed personalities characterized as being aggressive, controlling, precise, or having time urgency and achievement compulsion, tend to develop bruxism malocclusion (teeth that are not aligned properly).
• Children whose parents brux are more likely to develop this habit than children whose parents do not brux

Signs of bruxism include:

• Tooth wear
• Fractures of the teeth and fillings
• Grinding noise noticed by a sleeping partner
• Facial muscle pain and fatigue
• Locking, cracking, and clicking of the jaws
• Headaches
• Tooth mobility
• Sensitive teeth

When you visit Parkway Dental, we can make you aware of this habit and suggest behavioral therapies to stop you from grinding your teeth.  Stress reduction and coping techniques can be initiated to reduce the emotional stress you may be experiencing.  Dr. Stephen Coker can also provide you with a removable intra-oral appliance called a night guard or bruxism splint.  The mouth guard protects the teeth from the forces of clenching and grinding the teeth together.  A mouth guard or night guard is more practical for treating nighttime bruxism than it is for those who have daytime clenching and grinding habits.

For more information about bruxism and our available treatments, contact our office today.