Table of contents
Causes
Often patients do not realize that they have bruxism because its symptoms usually occur at bedtime. They tend to find out about it after dental examination as the result of bruxism are worn teeth. Bruxism can occur at any age.
As the bite force generated in teeth-clenching is much greater than the one of chewing so bruxism not only generates sounds that can annoy surrounding people but also causes teeth-erosion.
Symptoms
Symptoms of bruxism include the presence of dental erosion, temporomandibular joint disorder, bite muscles paint, teeth or fillings fracture, and widen periodontal ligaments on X-ray film. These symptoms can occur in different combinations.
Risk factors
Bruxism or pro-long teeth-clenching can wear down the teeth, fracture the cusps, reduce teeth durability, increase the chance of tooth decay and change the bite joint between two jaws. Also, it can hurt in the temporomandibular joint, causing fatigue or muscle pain.
Excessive teeth grinding can cause jaw muscles spasm, fatigue and pain. Overworked muscles can lead to enlarged bite muscle (masseter hypertrophy) on both sides, causing the face to be disproportioned or squarely shaped while affecting the bite joint causing structural damage such as temporomandibular joint disorder. Depending on the degree of joint injury, the patient will have a variety of symptoms: jaw joint pain, generate cracking sound when chewing, disorders in mouth movement, crooked jaw, difficulty when open mouth, etc.
Treatment
If you have had bruxism for a long time, especially when the teeth are eroded then treatment is very necessary. The first step of the treatment is to resolve the stress of daily life and work. If necessary, consult a psychologist.
The dentist can adjust the joint and make a night guard for the patient. The adjustment of the joints can help reduce grinding. Wearing a night guard at night or in the daytime while working in a stressful environment will help you stop teeth erosion, reduce fatigue and muscle pain.