This is a question we ask patients all the time when we see clues of this habit occurring. What's the big deal? The pressures that you put on your teeth and bone at night have been measured at around 500lbs per square inch! Pressures like that can cause a lot more than just ugly worn teeth.
Does this look familiar? Receding gums... some people think it's caused by brushing too hard- but why aren't all the gums receding then? It's because forces of tooth against tooth cause pressures on the BONE that holds the teeth in- the gum is just following the contours of the bone...
Headaches or jaw pain especially when you wake up?
How can we help? Keep reading...!
The NTI-SS (Nociceptive Trigeminal Inhibition Tension Suppression System) device is a nightguard that was originally made for migraine sufferers... it prevents the contraction of the temporalis muscles... but you know what else? It helps relax the muscles of the jaw while you sleep and ALSO prevents you from wearing tooth against tooth. Here's what the NTI looks like...
Most patients LOVE their NTI- it's small, and it allows them to sleep comfortably and wake up refreshed.
A traditional occlusal guard is another alternative for those people who are not candidates for the NTI- it looks like this...
The plastic is softer than your teeth so it provides a safe place for the teeth to land at night.
So if you think you might be grinding or clenching your teeth at night and you'd prefer not to end up like this:
Ask us about a custom nightguard-
And join our many happy patients that feel secure in preserving their smile!
Dr. Rebecca Swett, DDS, FAGD
Dr. Rebecca Swett co-founded Swett Dentistry in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 1996. A Fellow in the Academy of General Dentistry, she began her career as a dental hygienist before earning her DDS from the Medical College of Virginia and completing advanced general dentistry training at the University of Connecticut Health Center. She chairs the Dental Advisory Committee for the Charlottesville Free Clinic.
