TMJ and Tooth Wear

Everything Dr. Jeff says about Jaw Stuff and Tooth Wear

  • Grinding, Clenching
  • Tooth wear -- Smarties??
  • Bite Appliances

Grinding and Clenching 

People often grind and clench their teeth

The consequences of doing this can lead to:

1) Nothing -- no symptoms

2) Sore muscles and jaw

3) Sensitive Teeth

4) Specific findings in the mouth including excessive tooth wear, clefting of the gums and indents on the teeth at the gumline called abfraction.

 

If you have been diagnosed or self report yourself grinding and or clenching Dr. Jeff will say something like the following

  • The sensitivity you are feeling or the effects you are seeing have been built up over time, your body is able to tolerate a certain amount of stress before symptoms show up.
  • Our job now is to identify when this is happening
  • Over the next couple weeks it is important to be self aware of when your teeth are together.  At rest your teeth should not be touching.  Be aware of when you are grinding and clenching during day time hours.
  • If you are able to identify when you are doing it and be self aware to stop this may take care of the symptoms without any dental treatment.
  • If you are waking up in the morning with a tight jaw or sore teeth this will lead us to find that you are either grinding or clenching at night

  

Tooth Wear -- Smarties

There are 3 layers of a tooth, enamel, dentin and the nerve.

When you wear through the white enamel surface you will see the softer yellow dentin below.

When you look at a tooth that has tooth wear through the enamel it looks like a cross section of a smartie -- hard outer shell and softer middle. 

Once the softer middle is exposed the tooth or teeth are more likely to fracture.

When it gets to that point Dr. Jeff may suggest restoring those teeth with fillings.

That will do 2 things

  • Reinforce the existing tooth
  • Allow you to grind against the filling instead of your natural teeth thus preserving there integrity longer -- those fillings will statistically last an average of 5 years and then they can be replaced.

Should I get a bite appliance

If the symptoms and signs of grinding and clenching do not improve after the awareness phase Dr. Jeff may recommend an appliance.  Dr. Jeff will say you often have to earn it by us getting a clear diagnosis for us to prescribe the appliance

What is a bite appliance and how do I get one?

A bite appliance is a 3D printed acrylic or nylon splint that is fitted exactly to your teeth.  It will be balanced so that all teeth are hitting at once minimizing the pressure on the teeth and muscles

Our office will take a digital impression of your teeth and send it to a lab which will fabricate the appliance.

It typically takes 10 days for the lab to fabricate

When you return to get your appliance Dr. Jeff will make sure it fits properly and ensure that that bite is even all the way around.

INSTRUCTIONS ON USING AND MAINTAINING MY APPLIANCE

  1. Brush and floss as your regularly do
  2. Warm the appliance up under hot tap water for a few seconds
  3. Insert the appliance and go to bed
  4. In the morning take out the appliance and clean it using a toothbrush and a mild dish soap and water
  5. Rinse the appliance and store it in the container provided -- Do not store it in water
  6. PLEASE REMEMBER DOGS LOVE BITE APPLIANCES close the case or place it out of reach of your pet
  7. You can soak the appliance 1x per week for 20 minutes in a appliance cleaner like polydent.
  8. Bring the appliance to every appointment

If you have any pain or discomfort while wearing the appliance stop wearing it and call the office