WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I GRIND MY TEETH?
Bruxism (teeth grinding) is known as a parafunctional habit. Another parafunctional habit is clenching. These are activities related to, but not part of, the main function of your teeth, which is chewing. Both of these habits are considered to be stress connected, and both can be harmful to your teeth, temporomandibular joints (TMJ’s) and gums. Your TMJ’s are the jaw joints located just in front of your ears that you can feel moving with your fingers when you open and close your mouth. Bruxism usually takes place during sleep, while clenching may occur at any time. Flattened out areas on the chewing surfaces of your teeth, known as wear facets, are often the initial indicators of these parafunctional habits.
The stressors that can cause you to grind or clench your teeth are many and varied. Emotional stress, malocclusion (abnormal bite), intense physical activity and environmental stress are among the factors that can induce these parafunctional habits. Grinding and clenching your teeth can severely wear or even break them. In extreme cases it is possible to wear through to the tooth’s nerve.
Bruxing and clenching can also cause problems with the gums and jawbone in the form of periodontal disease. Effects may also extend to the neck area of the teeth (known as the cervical) in a condition termed cervical abfraction. Just as banging at the top of a post sunk into the ground can cause dirt to sift away at the base, so can bruxism recede the gums and erode the bone that is supporting the roots of your teeth.
These problems are addressed by wearing a simple dental appliance called a biteplane, or a splint. It is often worn while sleeping and is custom fitted for your teeth and bite. Its purpose is to prevent parafunction during sleep (when it most often occurs) by preventing contact between opposing teeth. In cases of uncontrollable clenching during the day, the biteplane may be worn while awake, but this is rare. A biteplane is most often made of a clear, smooth, hardened acrylic for better effect and to increase the lifespan of the appliance.
In some cases where damage has already occurred, such as tooth fracture or cervical abfraction, other treatments may be needed before relying on the bite plane to prevent further injury. Examples would be crowning a fractured tooth or repairing cervical abfraction with bonded fillings. In the case of TMD, biteplane placement can often correct changes that have occurred in the soft tissues in and around the joint, but bony changes within the joint may require surgery. We always take a special x-ray (called a panorex) to assess the joints for these changes before prescribing treatment. If bony changes are evident, you will be referred to a specialist for appropriate treatment.
As with all health related matters, prevention is the key. Treating parafunctional conditions before they become significant problems is the best way to avoid major troubles in the future. A biteplane is a simple solution to help head off any of the above-mentioned problems, before they become larger issues for you. If you have any questions about any of these points, please ask our office.