Bruxism – grinding and gritting the teeth – Kraków – Bronowice
Bruxism is a highly damaging uncontrolled reflex habit of gritting the teeth (most often during the day) and/or grinding the teeth (most often at night). Those who suffer from bruxism often do not even realize until someone tells them that while sleeping they grind their teeth. Sometimes such people awake in the morning with aches and pains in the area of the facial muscles. Others only find out during a periodic check-up at the dentist’s, who may identify the first symptoms..
Bruxism – what are the symptoms?
The symptoms relate to:
- teeth – wear of teeth, loss of enamel around the tooth necks, hypersensitivity of the teeth, cracking and breaking of the teeth, shifting of the teeth, inflammation of the dental pulp up to and including death of the pulp,
- dental prosthetics – cracking and breaking of removable prosthetics, crowns, and bridges,
- gums – inflammation of the gums, bleeding of the alveola,
- mucus layer of the inner cheeks and tongue – maceration and local anemization,
- bones – loss of bone mass around the roots of the damaged teeth,
- temporal-mandibular joints – inflammation, dislocation, restricted movement in the joints, clicks, jumping out of place,
- muscles – pain and excessive growth of the Masseter muscle and muscles of the temples, pain in the neck muscles,
- head – migraine,
- appearance and esthetics of the face.
Bruxism – what treatment methods are available?
The treatment of the disease is dependent on the degree to which the teeth are damaged and the causes of this damage. It is essential for the patient to observe him or herself, his or her behavior in stressful situations in terms of subconscious habits. Because the main cause of bruxism is stress, anything which reduces stress may be helpful.
To cure bruxism requires the cooperative effort of several specialists:
- a dentist who can restore the correct shape of the teeth and correct contact between them, as well as protect them with a special mouthguard,
- a physiotherapist and masseuse, who focus on correcting levels of muscle tension,
- a psychologist, who can teach the patient to cope with stress,
- an esthetic medicine doctor, who can provide botulin injections, reducing muscle tension in the Masseter muscle.
Sometimes, it is even necessary to use tranquilizers, antidepressants, and medications which reduce muscle tension, as well as psychotherapy.