SERVICES

• Treatment Methods
• Prophylaxis (Teeth Cleaning)
• Bruxism Treatments
• Scaling and Root Planing
• Bite Adjustment
• Osseous Surgery
• Gum Grafting
• Frenectomy
• Crown Lengthening
• Bone Grafting
• Sinus Augmentation
• Guided Bone and Tissue Regeneration
• Periodontal Laser
• Dental Implants
• Teeth-in-a-Day All-On-4
• Cosmetic Periodontal Surgery
• Oral Cancer Exam

Bruxism Treatments Rochester NY

Bruxism is an oral parafunctional activity that commonly occurs in most people at some point in their lives.  The two main characteristics of this condition are grinding of the teeth and clenching of the jaw. These actions usually occur during a person's sleeping hours, but occasionally they occur during the day.

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.

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  and lead to loose teeth and recession.
• Facial pain. Grinding can eventually shorten and blunt the teeth.  This can lead to muscle pain and  headaches.
• Occlusal trauma. The abnormal wear patterns on the occlusal (chewing) surfaces of the teeth can lead to tooth fractures, which 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.

Treatment Options

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. 
• NTI-tss device: This device only covers the front teeth and can be fitted at our office. The idea behind the NTI-tss is to prevent grinding the rear molars
• Botox®: Botox® can be injected into the muscles responsible for bruxing by disabling them enough to prevent grinding, but not enough to disrupt normal functions like speaking and chewing.

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