What’s more common than cavities? Clenching and grinding your teeth
Most people assume dental cavities are the most prevalent problem at the dentist and while they are a common problem, tooth clenching and grinding, or Bruxism, is a much bigger problem in most affluent metro dental markets such as Raleigh, Cary, and Wake Forest.
Why is tooth clenching and grinding so bad? Glad you asked
As you wear down your teeth, they ultimately get flatter and flatter and it gets much more involved to restore to normal. You can not just fix one tooth at a time, like most other dentists in the area recommend. Why? Because you are essentially paying money to fix a tooth to a worn down state, not a healthy normal height. To fix teeth properly, you would need to repair one arch of teeth – that is all of the upper or lower teeth to restore the lost height of your bite.
All this said, clenching and grinding your teeth is largely preventable by wearing an occlusal guard a.k.a. A dental Night guard. Don’t be duped to thinking that those junky guards sold in the drug store are the real deal. A proper occlusal guard needs to be fabricated just for you and in a manner that it will support your jaw joint (TMJ) and will not be a choking hazard.
Addressing clenching and grinding is a foundational practice in my top-rated Raleigh, NC aesthetic dental office. If you have any additional questions, please give us a call!
Smile,
Justin Russo, DDS
919-890-5417
