Bruxism, is the medical term for grinding, gnashing or clenching your teeth. This condition affects about 20% of people, both children and adults. Some people with bruxism unconsciously clench their teeth together during the day, often when they feel anxious or tense. Most people grind or gnash their teeth during sleep, usually in the early part of the night. This is called sleep bruxism.
In most cases, bruxism is mild and may not even require treatment. However, it can present in the form of headaches, muscle pain, TMJ dysfunction, audible teeth grinding, or dental damage.
Unfortunately, people with sleep bruxism usually aren’t aware of the habit, so they aren’t diagnosed with the condition until complications occur. For this reason it is important to know the signs and symptoms of bruxism and to seek regular dental care.
Some signs that you may have Bruxism
- Teeth grinding or clenching
- Teeth that are worn down, flattened, chipped or cracked
- Worn tooth enamel exposing the inside of your tooth
- Increased tooth sensitivity
- Jaw pain or tightness in your jaw muscles
- Ear-aches – because of violent jaw muscle contractions not associated with ear problems
- Dull morning headaches
- Chronic facial pain
- Chewed tissue on the inside of your cheek
How we treat bruxism
Injections can provide a treatment that lasts up to 6 months by using a muscle relaxing solution to treat the muscles which cause teeth grinding to occur. Dr Auteri offers a full consultation and assessment prior to any treatment. A small amount of solution is injected into the selected facial muscles using a very fine needle. The procedure only takes about 10 minutes and the discomfort is minimal and brief. After the injection, it takes about 7 -10 days to notice the effect and 14 days for the full effect to take place.
The important question… Is it safe?
The solution is one of the safest and most effective treatments in medicine today. The solution has been used for cosmetic purposes for over 15 years and for medical purposes for over 25 years without any reports of long-term side effects. It has been used to treat cerebral palsy in children and movement disorders in adults. Side effects are very rare.