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Bruxism Treatment
Maintaining Oral Health
During your regularly scheduled dental exam, your dentist will check for any signs of bruxism, also known as teeth grinding.
Over several visits, your dentists might evaluate your teeth and mouth to determine if the teeth grinding has progressed and whether you’ll need treatment. Splints and mouthguards are the simpler treatment options, but severe cases might need dental correction with crowns.
Bruxism can cause several issues for your mouth, teeth, and overall oral health. The best way to protect your smile from permanent damage is to schedule an appointment to assess your teeth. Untreated teeth grinding may wear down your teeth and cause them to crack, chip, and break. In more severe cases, bruxism can cause gum recession and TMJ. At Dousman, we offer dental care to prevent and treat teeth grinding in patients of all ages. Let us help you spot the warning signs before teeth grinding ruins your lovely smile.
Bruxism occurs when a person grinds, gnashes, or clenches their teeth unconsciously whether awake or asleep. Most people grow out of teeth grinding or don’t do it enough to elicit real damage. About 10% of adults and 15% of children experience detrimental teeth grinding.
There may be several psychological reasons why a person experiences aggressive grinding of their teeth such as anxiety, stress, anger, or frustration. Genetics may also play a factor if bruxism runs in the family. Other physical causes include:
If you are experiencing increased tooth pain or sensitivity, tired or tight jaw, dull headaches, sleep disruption, or pain around the neck, face, or ear, you may be diagnosed with bruxism. More noticeable signs are:
If you have any of the listed symptoms or other dental concerns, call our dentists to schedule an appointment immediately.
If you experience any symptoms related to severe teeth grinding, our dentists can help prevent the problem from getting worse. When you come in for an appointment, your dentist may check for tenderness in your jaw, any dental abnormalities, or damage to your teeth (usually by x-ray).
If bruxism is not the cause, a regular dental exam should be able to detect other disorders, problems, or health conditions that might be causing you pain or discomfort.
The best way to combat mild teeth grinding is with a mouth guard, a nightguard or Invisalign. Having a custom-fit mouthguard will create comfortable protection to prevent future damage to your teeth. Custom-fit mouth guards are the ideal option compared to over-the-counter guards because they are specifically designed for your mouth.
Treatment for teeth that have been worn down significantly includes reshaping the chewing surfaces of your teeth. Crowns can also be used to repair any damage that the grinding caused.
If your dentist recommends a mouthguard to treat your bruxism, it can cost between $300 to $800 for a custom fit. Invisalign can run from $4,000 - $8,000 but helps with tooth alignment. Cost can vary for crowns based on the type and how many you need but ranges from $300 - $3,000 per tooth.
Insurance companies may cover your treatment partially or fully depending on if it’s medically necessary. We also offer flexible payment plans to help assist you with covering the cost if you have no insurance coverage.
Having a family history of teeth grinding can create a higher risk for future generations. Other risk factors include cigarette and caffeine use, anti-anxiety medication effects, and people with A-type personalities.
I’ve been a long-time patient and continue to love it! Receptionists are friendly and helpful, hygienists are thorough and kind, and the dentists are great too. I stay because it’s great.
Really loved my experience with Dousman Family Dentistry for the last many many years. I am only transferring because we moved. We will miss you!
Everyone who works here is so kind! I have had a few visits and every single one has been a great experience. I live in East Troy and don't mind the travel time because I can't ask for a better place to go for dental care.
I have been going to Dr. Goral for 25 years. Excellent dentist, kept up with the latest. Listens to the patient. All receptionists, etc. are extremely nice. Jill is my hygienist. She is not only pleasant but efficient.
Dr. Schaeffer was the go-to guy for my family's teeth growing up. He put braces on my very crooked teeth when I was a pre-teen, and when my teeth reverted to their crooked ways, Dr. Schaeffer fixed them once again - this time with an expander and retainers. He is a miracle worker! I've had an expander followed by a retainer on my teeth for 9 months and the results are amazing! A genius in the world of teeth!
Our whole family goes here and they have been wonderful with our young children.
Had an emergency visit and was pleasantly surprised at the cost. Thank you for not price gouging during this pandemic! You guys are all great! Thank you for working during this time of craziness.
I had a great experience at Dousman Dental. I had two crowns put on the left side of my mouth and they decided to do them both at the same time which was great because it saved me a second trip. To be honest I never felt any pain and was as comfortable as could be under the circumstances. I would highly recommend them!
My wife and daughters have been going to Dr. Whalen for many years and I started going a year ago on my wife's recommendation. The staff are always very pleasant, it is an extremely clean facility and I feel very comfortable with trusting Dr. Whalen and his staff with my dental work. I would highly recommend Dousman Family Dentistry.
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