Protecting your teeth from wear

Bruxism is defined as the clenching and grinding of the teeth. It occurs mainly while you sleep. The forces transmitted to the teeth during the closing of the mouth by the bruxer are much greater than the forces produced by normal movements. We know that bruxism is related to the stress and strain associated with daily life, and all of us are candidates for bruxism. However, the frequency and duration of tooth compressing and clenching varies greatly from one individual to another. Although dentistry is aware of the problems created by bruxism, we have no method to cure it. However, a night guard or splint can offer protection and prevent the damage created by bruxism.

One of the most frequent symptoms we see at Clinicas Udemax is a feeling of tiredness or fatigue in the jaw muscles when waking up. It is a feeling of stiffness that makes it difficult to start the morning movements. Even reaching the temples. Tooth sensitivity to cold liquids is increased by the change in the position of the gum, and a groove is visible next to the root of the tooth near the gum, sometimes simulating notches on the canine teeth. The shape of the teeth becomes smoother and flattened at the contact points: shorter teeth, with sharp edges and tiny fissures. In more advanced stages, the dimension of the face becomes squarer, as the length of the teeth decreases.

There are several types of protective splints that can be fabricated by your dentist. Some are more suitable than others, depending on the degree of the individual alteration. At Clinicas Udemax we recommend a hard clear plastic that covers all teeth is the safest protective splint and most strong clenchers need it to allow them to unload all their stress without breaking the splint easily. The design can be periodically adjusted to control unconscious forces. . It is a stable, durable, protective appliance that is placed on the upper or lower teeth.

For people who have a tendency to clench their teeth, it is an optimal solution, because it protects the teeth not only in the dental arch covered by the splint, but also in the arch that is free, since the hardness of the tooth is greater than that of the plastic.

Make an appointment at Clinicas Udemax and choose the location that best suits you: Udemax in the outpatient clinics of Policlínica Juaneda, in Arcdental or in Emardental, your clinic in the centre of Palma. For more information, call us on 971 767 521.