Treaments and Services

• Treatment Methods
• Prophylaxis (Teeth Cleaning)
• Bruxism Treatments
• Scaling and Root Planning
• Bite Adjustment
• Osseous Surgery
• Gum Grafting
• Frenectomy
• Crown Lengthening
• Bone Grafting
• Guided Bone and Tissue Regeneration
• Sinus Augmentation
• Cosmetic Periodontal Surgery
• Oral Cancer Exam
• TMJ Dysfunction
• Tooth Extraction
• Microbial Testing
• Local Antibiotic Treatment
• Periodontal Maintenance & Support Therapy
• Dental Implants

Bruxism Treatments

Bruxism is an oral parafunctional activity that commonly occurs in most people at some point in their lives.� The two main characteristics of this condition are grinding of the teeth and clenching of the jaw. These actions usually occur during a person�s sleeping hours, but occasionally they occur during the day.

Bruxism is one of the most common known sleep disorders.�Chewing is a neuromuscular activity controlled by a subconscious process, but more highly controlled by the brain. During sleep, the subconscious process may become active, while the higher control is inactive (asleep), resulting in bruxism. The most common symptoms are earaches and headaches, depression, eating disorders and anxiety, and chronic stress.

Why should I seek treatment for Bruxism?

• Gum recession. Bruxism can be a contributing factor in gum recession and tooth loss. Grinding can damage the soft tissue and lead to loose teeth and deep pockets where bacteria are able to colonize and decay the supporting bone.
• Facial pain. Grinding can eventually shorten and blunt the teeth.� This can lead to muscle pain in the myofascial region and in severe cases incapacitating headaches.
• Occlusal trauma. The abnormal wear patterns on the occlusal (chewing) surfaces of the teeth can lead to fractures, which if left untreated may require restorative treatment at a later time.
• Arthritis. In the most severe cases, bruxism can eventually lead to painful arthritis in the temporomandibular (TMJ) joints that allow the jaw to open and close smoothly.

Treatment Options

Though there is no known cure for bruxism, there are a variety of devices and services available through our office to help treat bruxism:

• Mouthguards. A hard acrylic mouthguard can be designed from teeth impressions to minimize the abrasive grinding action during normal sleep.�Mouthguards are expected to be worn on a long-term basis to help prevent tooth damage.

Once bruxing is under control, we can perform a variety of dental procedures to restore the pleasant aesthetic appearance to your smile such as gum grafts, and crown lengthening and restorative care with your general dentist.