In addition to headaches and musculature, Bruxism can cause tooth wear and even help with the onset of periodontal disease.
WHAT IS BRUXISM?
Bruxism is a functional disorder that affects both adults and children. It is nothing but grinding or clenching teeth during sleep. Because it happens unconsciously, it is an involuntary act that can stimulate muscle pain on waking or even severe headaches even during the day. Also, over time, it causes tooth wear and contributes to gum disease and periodontal disease. In more severe cases, bruxism may lead to the need for root canal treatment or temporomandibular joint disorders, the TMJ. This “exercise”, which is unknowingly has a practise, causes hypertrophy of the masseter muscle, located in the mandible angle region, which creates volume intensification and may lead to aesthetic discomfort.
It occurs even during the waking day, and the individual keeps his teeth clenched against each other when the muscles should be relaxed. These conditions are most often related to psychological factors such as stress but may be caused or exacerbated by the absence or poor positioning of the teeth, or even simple chewing.
SYMPTOMS
The most common symptom of bruxism is frequent headaches. The patient with this condition may also have tooth wear or mobility, ringing in the ear, pain and cracking when opening and closing the mouth, pain and fatigue in the muscles of the face, neck and jaw. These symptoms a intensifies during periods when the patient is under stress and may lead to sleep changes. It is important to remember that bruxism hardly has only one causal factor, which is characteristic of this parafunction.
TREATMENT FOR BRUXISM
The treatment of bruxism will be elaborated, case by case, according to the diagnosis found by the professional. If there is a malformity in the occlusion, an occlusal adjustment may perform due to wear or addition of structure, replacement of missing teeth or orthodontic therapy. Besides these options, the use of occlusal splint (soft/hard), or different types of reprogramming devices (appliances)are essential. These appliances are a tailor-made device that relieves the tensions exerted by the muscles of the face, besides protecting the tooth structures from wear and forces directed to the teeth when tightening and friction.
Bruxism is related to emotional conditions. The patient suffering from this functional disorder should look for ways to calm stress. It may be either by the practice of physical activities and relaxing therapies or by the accompaniment.
Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD)
Treatment Bruxism and TMD happen when there is some detrimental change in the jaw joint, the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). It is the most widely used joint in our body and therefore deserves our full attention. There are several types of TMJ dysfunction. It is the presence of pain or clicking when opening and closing the mouth. And headache and deviation of the lower jaw while opening the mouth. Also, tiredness in the muscles of the face and neck. Bruxism or ringing in the ear indicates that something is abnormal and treatment may be required. In the most severe cases, this dysfunction can lead to jaw locking or detachment when the patient suddenly experiences occlusion change.
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