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Dr. Xavier Borràs Explaining Bruxism Treatment
What is Bruxism (Teeth Grinding)?
Dr. Xavier Borràs Explaining Bruxism Treatment
Bruxism is a common condition that occurs when a person grinds or clenches their teeth.
The pressure exerted through clenching and grinding can result in long-term jaw pain and headaches.
Over time, it can also damage the teeth.
It usually happens at night when you're unconscious.
When you're sleeping, you're putting too much pressure on your teeth, which can damage them.
Aside from causing pain and damaging your natural teeth, bruxism can also break restorations such as veneers, crowns, bridges, bonding, and implant crowns.
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Dr. Xavier Borràs Explaining Symptoms & Answering Commonly Asked Questions
Symptoms of Bruxism (Teeth Grinding)
Dr. Xavier Borràs Explaining Symptoms & Answering Commonly Asked Questions
Bruxism can cause a range of symptoms, including:
- Headaches that often start at the temples
- Jaw pain
- Tight muscles around the jaw
- Damage to the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), including a locked jaw, and popping or clicking
- Sleep disorders, including insomnia
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How Much Does Bruxism Treatment Cost?
Bruxism treatment costs depend on the severity of your condition and the chosen treatment method.
People with mild bruxism may require less intensive treatment than those with severe bruxism.
3Dental assesses each patient's needs and provides a targeted treatment plan.
The Bruxism Treatment Procedure
- Free Consultation & Assessment
- Neurotoxin Injections
- Custom Night Guard
- Follow-Up Review
Free Consultation & Assessment
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Free Consultation & Assessment
When you book a free consultation, we'll assess your symptoms and determine whether you're experiencing awake bruxism, sleep bruxism, or a combination of both.
Your dentist will examine your teeth and jaw, looking for muscle tension and damaged teeth.
We'll then advise a treatment plan based on your individual needs.
Neurotoxin Injections
Neurotoxin Injections
Your dentist may recommend neurotoxin injections if excessive bite pressure or muscle tension is an issue.
Neurotoxin injections can reduce jaw muscle contraction, protect your natural teeth and dental restorations from damage, and reduce headaches.
Your dentist will recommend the number of injections based on your bruxism symptoms.
The injections usually begin to work within seven days, and most patients experience full results within 14 days.
Custom Night Guard
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Custom Night Guard
For many patients, we advise a custom-made night guard as it creates a barrier between your teeth, reducing the risk of damage.
However, night guards won't reduce bite pressure, so your dentist may recommend combining neurotoxin injections with a night guard for optimal results.
We'll create a mould of your teeth to ensure the mouth guard fits correctly and will reduce bruxism symptoms.
Follow-Up Review
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Follow-Up Review
Approximately two weeks after your injections, we'll schedule a follow-up appointment to review whether the treatment was effective, make any adjustments to your night guard and address any concerns.
You'll also receive advice to protect your teeth and prevent damage.
This can include lifestyle changes like avoiding chewing gum and attending regular dental exams.
Benefits of Bruxism Treatment
Reduced Jaw & Facial Pain - Targeted bruxism treatment relaxes your jaw muscles, which reduces discomfort.
Prevents Tooth Damage - It also protects adult teeth from wear, cracks, and chips caused by grinding.
Preserves Dental Work - If you've had previous dental work, such as veneers, dental implants, crowns, and fillings, bruxism treatment will preserve them, reducing the need for revisions.
Improved Sleep Quality - People with sleep-related disorders such as sleep apnea and insomnia may experience a reduction in symptoms.
Relieves Headaches - Reduces tension headaches by relieving bite pressure and muscle strain.
Protection - Treating bruxism early can prevent you from developing insomnia and other sleep disorders.
It also prevents long-term dental issues associated with teeth grinding.
Customised to Your Needs - Each treatment plan is tailored to your specific symptoms and dental structure.
Boosts Overall Comfort - With less tension and damage, you’ll feel more comfortable throughout the day and night.
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We have improved 1,000's of smiles at our Dublin (Red Cow), Dublin 2 (Aungier Street), Limerick and Galway clinics.
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Book an Appointment with 3Dental Today
If you're experiencing the symptoms of bruxism, seeking support can prevent tooth wear, relieve pain and ensure better sleep quality.
Please book your free consultation with 3Dental today to discuss your treatment options.
Visit Us In Dublin (Red Cow), Dublin 2 (Aungier Street), Limerick Or Galway
13-16 Redmond's Hill, Aungier Street, Dublin 2, D02 RP46
The Red Cow Complex, Naas Rd, Fox-And-Geese, Dublin, D22 KV24
Old Quarter House, Little Ellen St, Limerick, V94 D72V
28, Briarhill Business Park, Galway, H91 C9DR
Commonly Asked Questions
Is Bruxism (teeth grinding) a serious problem?
Yes, Bruxism can be a severe problem for your jaw as it places a lot of pressure on your teeth and joints, causing damage to your jaw.
Over time, bruxism can lead to chronic pain and sleep disorders. It can also cause worn or cracked teeth.
Are there ways to prevent teeth grinding (bruxism)?
Sleep bruxism often happens subconsciously, but there are ways to prevent it.
The most common treatments are wearing a night guard and neurotoxin injections.
However, some people may also benefit from stress and anxiety management, including relaxation and breathing techniques.
In some cases, bruxism may be related to other conditions, and treating these conditions can help reduce teeth grinding.
Individuals with awake bruxism can benefit from behavioural changes and treatments to address anxiety.
What are the possible long-term effects or complications of untreated bruxism?
The long-term effects of untreated bruxism can cause permanent damage to your oral health.
Severe tooth wear can increase your sensitivity and lead to the development of cavities.
Failing to seek treatment may also result in chipped or cracked teeth.
In some cases, the damage could lead to missing teeth.
Exerting constant pressure on your jaw joints can lead to TMJ disorders, resulting in ongoing pain, popping and clicking, and issues opening or closing your mouth.
Many people with bruxism also experience headaches, facial pain, and sleep disorders.
What causes bruxism?
Bruxism can occur due to a range of factors, including lifestyle habits, stress, and medication.
It's also more common in individuals who are prone to stress and anxiety.
Bruxism may also be linked to neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease.
What are the different types of bruxism?
The two main types of bruxism are awake and sleep bruxism.
Awake bruxism often occurs due to stress and anxiety, but it can also be a subconscious habit.
Sleep bruxism happens when you sleep, and it’s considered to be a sleep-related movement disorder.
How soon can I expect to see results from my bruxism treatment?
You may start seeing results from treatment in about a week.
Full effects typically appear within two weeks and can last around three months.
However, it depends on your treatment plan and whether we use a night guard, neurotoxin injections, or a combination of both treatments.
What is the main cause of bruxism?
There's no main cause of bruxism as it's a multifactorial condition.
However, the most common causes include stress, anxiety, certain medications, social habits, or neurological diseases.
What deficiency causes bruxism?
Some specialists believe that Vitamin D and magnesium can increase the risk of bruxism.
Both deficiencies can impact muscle function, which may trigger bruxism.
How do I stop grinding my teeth?
A lot of people don't grind or clench their teeth badly enough to require therapy, but it is always important to see a dentist to have a comprehensive exam and try to find out why you are grinding.
An abnormal bite or missing or crooked teeth can be the cause of bruxism, so in some cases, a dental treatment can solve the problem.
Orthodontic correction may be needed if the teeth or jaws are poorly aligned.
However, if the problem persists, some further intervention might be necessary to prevent more tooth damage and relieve jaw pain or discomfort, like a personalized mouth guard made by your dentist, stress management therapies or use of medications.
How can I stop grinding my teeth at night?
While awake, bruxism is easier to control; you can't consciously stop bruxism at night because you're asleep and unaware of the pressure you're putting on your teeth.
The best way to prevent further damage is by using a night guard.
How do you cure bruxism?
Stress, sleep disorders, tobacco, caffeine, alcohol and drug use are often linked to teeth grinding.
From a dental standpoint, crooked or missing teeth or having a malocclusion, that is when your bite is not correct, is also attributed to teeth grinding.
Your dentist will tell you if there is a dental condition causing the grinding, and you can be provided with a personalized mouth guard (or splint) to protect the teeth and possibly prevent grinding.
Finally, treating and preventing stress or anxiety through counselling, relaxation, exercise, meditation, hypnotherapy or any number of other stress-relief methods may help eliminate teeth grinding.
How do I relax my jaw?
Many times a custom night guard or splint, made by your dentist can relieve the discomfort and damage that can occur from teeth grinding.
Botox injections can be used to relief over-functioning muscles, helping to control the grinding. Massage and physical therapy are often incorporated to relax tired muscles and reduce stress.
Beyond these treatments, some medications can be used to help, like muscle relaxants, or in some specific cases, antidepressants.
Keeping the jaws relaxed in the daytime by not chewing on pens, pencils, fingernails or gum may prevent grinding and clenching at night.
Can grinding teeth cause problems?
Yes. In severe cases, teeth grinding or bruxism can cause you problems, such as:
- Pain and stiffness of the jaw joint and in facial muscles
- Cracked and worn teeth
- Disrupted sleep for the person with bruxism and for their bedroom partner
- Headaches, aching jaw and facial muscles, earache or tightness and stiffness in the shoulders
Does teeth grinding affect sleep?
It is possible. It may cause disrupted sleep, not only for the teeth grinder, but also for their bed partners.
Can grinding teeth cause cracks?
In the long term, yes.
In some cases, chronic teeth grinding can result in a fracturing, loosening, or loss of teeth. The chronic grinding may also wear teeth down to stumps.
When this happens, some comprehensive dental treatment might be necessary, like root canals, dental crowns or even dentures.
Can bruxism cause dizziness?
In severe cases it can happen. That is because long term teeth grinding can affect your TMJ (Temporomandibular joint), that is located in front of the ears.
As the inner part of the ears are responsible for your sense of balance; inflammation, tenderness or clicking on the TMJ can lead to dizziness or vertigo.
What vitamin deficiency causes teeth grinding?
Some studies show that magnesium deficiency might contribute to bruxism. Calcium and vitamins B and C are also related to reducing stress management and improving sleep quality.
It's important to follow a well-balanced, nutritious diet and take a multivitamin supplement if needed.
This is not only to help preventing teeth grinding, but to have a better quality of life in general.