You may be grinding your teeth at night. This condition is called bruxism. Many people do not know they grind their teeth until their dentist notices damage. At Old Orchard Periodontics, Dr. Barack and Dr. Gupta are board-certified periodontists who specialize in treating the damage that grinding causes to your teeth, gums, and jawbone.

Bruxism is one of the most common known sleep disorders. Chewing is a neuromuscular activity controlled by a subconscious process, but more highly controlled by the brain. During sleep, the subconscious process may become active, while the higher control is inactive (asleep), resulting in bruxism. The most common symptoms are earaches, headaches, depression, eating disorders, anxiety, and chronic stress.

A BiteStrip® is a device available through our office used to diagnose bruxism at home. The device itself is a small electromyography, which can sense and monitor activity in the jaw muscles during sleep. The frequency and severity of the condition can then be assessed and a plan of treatment can be determined.

Common Signs of Teeth Grinding 

Our dentists can treat these common symptoms of teeth grinding in Skokie, IL:

• Worn, flattened, or chipped teeth
• Jaw pain, stiffness, or popping sounds
• Morning headaches or migraines
• Tooth sensitivity to hot or cold
• Receding gums
• Earaches or ringing in the ears
• Facial muscle pain or tightness

Why should I seek treatment for Bruxism?

• Gum recession. Bruxism is a leading cause of gum recession and tooth loss. Grinding can damage the soft tissue directly and lead to loose teeth and deep pockets where bacteria are able to colonize and decay the supporting bone.
• Facial pain. Grinding can eventually shorten and blunt the teeth. This can lead to muscle pain in the myofascial region and in severe cases, incapacitating headaches.
• Occlusal trauma. The abnormal wear patterns on the occlusal (chewing) surfaces of the teeth can lead to fractures, which, if left untreated, may require restorative treatment at a later time.
• Arthritis. In the most severe cases, bruxism can eventually lead to painful arthritis in the temporomandibular (TMJ) joints that allow the jaw to open and close smoothly.

Bruxism Treatment Options

Though there is no known cure for bruxism, there are a variety of devices and services available through our office to help treat bruxism:

• Mouthguards. An acrylic mouthguard can be designed from teeth impressions to minimize the abrasive grinding action during normal sleep. Mouthguards must be worn on a long-term basis to help prevent tooth damage.
• NTI-tss device: This device only covers the front teeth and must be fitted at our office. The idea behind the NTI-tss is to prevent grinding the rear molars by limiting the contraction of the temporalis muscle in the jaw.

Once bruxing is under control, we can perform a variety of dental procedures to restore the pleasant aesthetic appearance to your smile such as crown application, gum grafts, and crown lengthening.

Stop Grinding Your Teeth

Do you wake up with headaches and jaw pain? Call Old Orchard Periodontics & Implant Dentistry to treat teeth grinding in Skokie, IL, at (847) 750-3373. You can also schedule a consultation with Dr. Barack and Dr. Gupta online.