Tooth Wear / Grinding (Bruxism)
In this day and age, we see a lot of tooth wear. This type of damage can cause problems for you.
Commonly, we see tooth wear from Bruxism or tooth grinding. This is excessive clenching or grinding of teeth, that is not a part of normal chewing movements. It can cause excessive wear on teeth and may cause permanent damage to the teeth and jaw joints. The teeth can become shorter, chipped and cracked and can become sensitive and discoloured.
A combination of physical and psychological factors are believed to contribute to bruxism.
Treatment aims to remove the cause, change behaviour that causes bruxism and sometimes repair the resulting damage. An occlusal splint or night guard may be recommended to protect upper and lower teeth. This is custom made to suit your individual teeth and bite.
Erosive wear on teeth may also be caused by acids in the oral environment. These acids can include gastric reflux disease, work place environment (eg. wine making) to dietary acids in soft drinks and foods. Treatment aims to identify the cause, correct and or mitigate the habit and then maintain and strengthen the worn tooth structure. The worn surfaces of the teeth can often be built up and restored to improve appearance and function.
Call us today for more information about bruxism/tooth wear or to make an appointment.