Achieve The Most Amazing Smile with
Treatment For Teeth Grinding & Bruxism
Our State Of The Art Office Is Only A Few Miles From Palm Beach Gardens, West Palm Beach, And All Of Palm Beach County.
Teeth Grinding & Bruxism
Many of us occasionally will grind our teeth. It might be the result of the obnoxious driver or an unexpected utility bill. You’re under some stress or experiencing some anxiety. When you begin to grind your teeth on a regular basis is when some issues can set in. Let’s first look at a medical definition. It often happens during your sleep as well so you do readily even know you are doing it.
The medical term for teeth grinding is called Bruxism. This is a condition when you frequently grind, gnash or clench your teeth. You can do it unconsciously either awake or in your sleep. If you are grinding your teeth in your sleep you may be unaware that you are doing it. Many people find out from loved ones that hear the noise at night. It also can be related to a sleep disorder like sleep apnea.
Classic Symptoms And Causes
The medical field doesn’t completely understand what causes bruxism. It seems like it is the result of a combination of physical, psychological and even genetic factors. Some signs that you may be grinding your teeth are first off the noise at night that your partner, friend or family member can hear. Next is if your teeth are flattened, chipped, fractured or even loose. Grinding can and will wear down tooth enamel which exposes deeper layers increasing either sensitivity or tooth pain. A sure sign is if your jaw is tired or tight in the morning when you awake. That discomfort can include not only a sore jaw but also with your face and neck. In fact, it can create an earache and leave you with headaches. You might damage your soft tissue in your mouth as well and disrupt the quality of your sleep.
Award Winning
Dentistry at Ritter + Ramsey
Our Doctors are known nationally for their knowledge of practice materials and techniques. Ritter and Ramsey have provided industry insights and research to some of the top dental manufactures worldwide. Together, they lecture both nationally and internationally in excess of 50 times per year.
Risks, Complications And The Harm
If you have one of these factors it increases the potential for teeth grinding. Are you stressed frequently, suffer from constant anxiety and can get angry quickly and are often frustrated? These can play a role. Bruxism is more come among younger children and can usually go away as the child enters adulthood. Are you competitive and aggressive? Even if you are hyperactive it can contribute. These personality features will result in an increased possibility of teeth grinding. It is also possible that bruxism can result from a prescribed medication. If you are taking something to combat depression teeth grinding could become an uncommon side effect. Drinking caffeinated beverages has been linked to bruxism as has smoking tobacco, drinking alcohol and even using recreational drugs. It has been reasonably proven that it is also genetic. It can and does run in families. Finally, it can be associated with medical disorders and various forms of mental health. Disorders like Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, dementia, sleep apnea and ADHD, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder have all been linked to bruxism.
How Do You Treat And Correct
If you believe you might be grinding your teeth make an appointment with your dentist. He or she can look for the signs and symptoms that we mentioned earlier. A series of questions will be presented to you as well to determine what might be the contributing factor or factors. After a physical exam of your teeth and oral hygiene X-rays may be added to see if there is any underlying bone damage or other disorders such as TMJ, which is temporomandibular joint pain and discomfort. Your dentist may suggest a simple mouth guard to be worn in your sleep to prevent further damage moving forward. He or she may also consider it necessary to refer you to a sleep specialist. More tests could be conducted through a sleep study to assess the possible episodes of teeth grinding and determine if you have one of those other detrimental sleep disorders. It could be possible that a licensed therapist or counselor would be suggested for referral as well. This individual may determine if you need stress or anxiety management. You may simply learn strategies that will promote relaxation to alleviate some of that stress and help you acquire the ability to control the stress or anxiety. It’s possible that you may need to undergo a behavior change that can alter or change your mouth and jaw position.
Lifestyle Changes
If you believe that you are grinding your teeth you can take some steps at home on your own. First, reduce your stress. Listen to music, take a warm bath or exercise. Take some of those stimulating substances out of your diet like coffee or alcohol in the evening hours. Do your best to be aware of improving your sleep habits. You might want to attempt to stick the tip of your tongue between your teeth during the day to relax your jaw muscles. A warm washcloth on your jaw in front of your earlobe before you head to bed at night can help your jaw to relax as well. Of course, always schedule regular dental exams and see if your dentist can pick up on any damaging symptoms.
Correct The Problem
Teeth grinding can and will have negative effects if left untreated. You will get tired of the constant headaches, the jaw pain and discomfort but the damage gets more severe when you change the structure of your teeth or create gum recession. Tooth sensitivity, cracked and broken teeth, and the disappearing enamel all will add up over time leading to compounding problems with multiple corrections. If you have any of these symptoms listed please schedule a dental appointment and share your concern that you might be dealing with teeth grinding or bruxism. It is too simple of an issue to overlook and not correct in regards to the consequences. A simple, economical little mouth guard, like one worn by high school athletes, can save you thousands of dollars down the road in corrective procedures. Learn to relax, to control your stress and anxiety, and you will benefit in other areas of your life as well. Don’t let teeth grinding get the best of you.
ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY DENTISTRY SINCE 1994
Traditionally, hours of hand labor in a dental laboratory are invested in these precise products. With the adoption of more technology into dentistry, digital imaging continues to grow in importance. Most restorations begin with a mold of your mouth that involves messy impression materials. With the Itero Digital Scanner, you can say goodbye to the mess. Itero eliminates this step, replacing it with simple digital images captured with a handheld wand. The images quickly appear on a computer monitor as 3-D models of your teeth.
Expert Tooth Restoration Using Porcelain Crowns
Porcelain dental crowns are used to restore dental implants, to secure dental bridges, restore and help repair broken or damaged teeth. Dental crowns can be performed in one visit. The goal with dental crowns is to create a natural looking smile. These types of crowns can add the strength and durability to any tooth with any needed repair. Aesthetically, dental crowns are used to cover a discolored tooth and even narrow the gaps between largely separated teeth.
The Finest Porcelain Veneers for a New Smile
At Ritter & Ramsey, watching patients discover a brilliant new smile is the highlight of our days. Porcelain veneers can transform a smile dramatically. A beautiful new set of porcelain veneers can correct chips, stains, and even deeply discolored teeth. But they can also alter the length and size of teeth, or help teeth that seem rotated appear straight. While it sounds dramatic, only the stunning visual outcome is surprising. Porcelain veneers provide a highly conservative approach to aesthetic smile makeovers.
Meet Our Internationally Recognized Cosmetic Dentists
Our doctors have more than 40 years of combined experience diagnosing and treating dental health issues. Patients trust our team to perform top quality work and send you home from your appointments with a gleaming smile. Get to know our doctors below and be sure to meet our wonderful, hard-working staff as well.
Dr. Robert Ritter
Dr. Robert Ritter grew up in Palm Beach prior to attending Medical University of South Carolina College of Dental Medicine. Practicing since 1994 and logging more than 200 hours of continuing education per year, Dr. Ritter is an extremely proficient doctor of restorative dentistry.
Dr. Christopher Ramsey
Dr. Christopher Ramsey was raised in Jupiter and achieved his dental degree from Temple University School of Dentistry in Philadelphia. Dr. Ramsey is on the editorial review board for two dentistry journals and stays on the cutting edge of cosmetic dentistry treatments.
Dr. Isabelle Ritter
Dr. Isabelle Ritter graduated from Medical University of South Carolina College of Dental Medicine in 1994. Dr. Ritter provides tailored, mercury-free dental care for your young children and teens. She enjoys providing young people with healthy habits and gleaming smiles.