If you're wondering if your dentist sees signs of tooth clenching or grinding (bruxism) during your routine exams, the answer is—yes. Your dentist can often see the telltale signs of tooth fractures, chipping, or excessive wear caused by bruxism before you notice them.
That's why routine exams with your Northport dentist every six months are so important. When your dentist identifies that you are clenching your jaw during sleep, they can help you proactively treat the problem before more damage or discomfort occurs. Here's what you should know.
Why Bruxism Is Dangerous
You may have difficulty recognizing that you're clenching your jaw while sleeping. This could result in wear or damage to your teeth, receding gums, a breakdown of your jaw joint, and other pain and discomfort. When our dentists identify bruxism as a problem, they will recommend treatment options that can help protect your smile and jaw joint function.
Determining the Root Cause
Understanding why you clench your jaw in sleep can help us make suitable treatment recommendations. Some of the causes of bruxism may be:
- Tooth or bite misalignment
- Sleep apnea
- Stress or anxiety
- Caffeine
How We Treat Tooth Clenching and Grinding at Northport Family Dental
Once we understand what's causing your bruxism, we can create a custom treatment plan to protect your smile. For example, if you clench and grind due to bite misalignment, our dentists may recommend orthodontic treatment with braces or clear aligners with Invisalign®.
If your problem is sleep apnea, our dentists can customize an oral appliance to help you eliminate clenching and grinding and open your airways for clear breathing, allowing you to get a good night's rest.
If you don't need a sleep appliance, we may recommend a night guard to help eliminate the clenching and grinding and protect your teeth from damage.
The best way to determine your treatment needs is to book an evaluation with your dentist in Northport by calling our team at (631) 754-1107.