Palm beach cosmetic dentist blog » Bruxism

Symptoms of a cracked tooth

admin — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 16:31:34 +0000

Symptoms of a cracked tooth. You may experience pain in the tooth when you bite or chew. However, it probably will not happen all the time. The tooth may be painful only when you eat certain foods or when you bite in a specific way. You will not feel a constant ache, as you would if you had a cavity or abscess, but the tooth may be more sensitive to cold temperatures. If the crack worsens, the tooth may become loose. Many people with cracked tooth syndrome have symptoms for months, but it’s often difficult to diagnose because the symptoms are not consistent. If you are experiencing these symptoms let either the doctor or hygienists know. Ultimately the need to restore the tooth with a crown or other restorative option may be necessary.

Cracked tooth syndrome: What Is It?

admin — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 21:56:26 +0000

Cracked tooth syndrome: What Is It?
Unlike teeth with obvious fractures, teeth with cracked tooth syndrome usually have fractures that are too small to be seen on X-rays. Sometimes the fracture is below the gum line, or under an existing crown making it even more difficult to identify. Cracked tooth syndrome more often occurs in molars, usually lower molars, which absorb most of the forces of chewing. People who grind or clench their teeth may be more susceptible to cracked tooth syndrome because of the constant forces put on their teeth. Sometimes a person’s normal bite causes certain molar cusps (the highest points of the tooth) to exert so much pressure on the opposing tooth that it cracks. Teeth with large fillings or teeth that have undergone root canal treatment are weaker than other teeth and may be more likely to crack. People with one cracked tooth are more likely to have others, either at the same time or in the future. In our office we use special instruments to help identify cracked teeth and recomend treatment before tooth fracture occurs.

The Importance of a Night Guard for Bruxism

admin — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 14:59:10 +0000

You cannot down play the importance of wearing a night guard if you are a person who grinds or clenches their teeth known as bruxism. We also recommend night guards on smile makeover patients to protect their investment in a new smile. Today we saw two different patients who were instructed to use their night guard to protect their teeth. In one case the night guard was not being worn and the grinding habit was so profound that it was causing her front teeth to become loose. Also, the trauma was so severe that it may have contributed to the need for a root canal on one of the front teeth. In the other case the patient altered the night guard shape to make it fit better so she thought. Unfortunately this created a misalignment in her bite. Over time her teeth shifted to take on the new altered position created by the misshapen night guard. This lead to having to replace existing crowns to re-align her bite and bring the teeth back into the correct position. In our office our doctors stress the importance of wearing a night guard to help protect our patients from avoidable problems and keeping your teeth healthy.

“I don’t grind my teeth”

admin — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 13:34:04 +0000

“I don’t grind my teeth” As a dentist do you know how often we hear this statement? Research suggests that 100% of people grind their teeth sometime in their lives. Most of us regularly grind our teeth at night during sleep, called Bruxism. Only a small population does this rarely. For many, Bruxism is connected with stress in our lives and expressed as night time grinding of teeth during sleep. For others Bruxism is like a program in our Central Nervous System that runs every night. The problem is this occurs during sleep so most people are unaware that they possess this habit. Unfortunately for your teeth Bruxism is very destructive. Minimal tooth wear occurs from chewing and eating over the course of a life time but Bruxism can cause significant tooth wear in a short time destroying your teeth and breaking any existing dental work. The most apparent place for you to see wear from Brusism is on your front teeth. If your teeth are getting shorter and becoming almost see through or constantly chipping along the edges you are grinding your teeth. This can lead to other problems such as TMJ or occlusion problems. Fortunately there are preventative and restorative options to correct wear from Bruxism and give you a beautiful smile.

Patient to restore worn teeth

admin — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 16:33:58 +0000

Today we consulted a new patient from Illinois on how to restore his severely worn teeth. The patient has a history of grinding his teeth (Bruxism). He has never worn a night guard or other orthotic devise to protect his teeth from his destructive grinding. Many times patients with significant grinding habits can also affect the health of the TMJ. Fortunately we presented a number of solutions including new crowns and bridges to restore his teeth and a night guard to protect and provide a new beautiful youthful smile. It is fulfilling realizing how much dentistry has to offer to improve a person’s health, quickly and comfortably.