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www.theconnectionsnj.com
Gentle Dental
of Branchburg
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By: Dr. Christopher Fears
Gentle Dental of Branchburg
When most patients make an
appointment for a dental visit,
they are concerned with tooth
decay burrowing into their teeth,
or gum disease weakening the
structures that keep their teeth
in place. What many overlook is
the third major factor that puts
your oral health at risk, trauma.
Mouths can be traumatized by
both acute and chronic condi-
tions. Because we can’t predict
acute trauma like car accidents,
fist fights, and errant hockey
pucks, I will stick to discussing
chronic trauma, like that caused
by clenching and grinding.
Many people clench or grind but
far fewer are aware of their
habit. It could be at night
(research is being done that link
these behaviors to airway pro-
tection against obstructive sleep
apnea) or with mouth breathing
due to allergies. Clenching and
grinding could be exacerbated
by medication (antidepressants
and other medications are wide-
ly associated with grinding), or
during times of focus (work,
study, or sport). It could also be
a symptom of another problem
such as back, shoulder, neck,
tmj conditions or it could be in
response to stress from work or
family obligations.
How do you know if you are
a closet clencher or grinder?
Ask family and friends. Place
reminders around to check your-
self. Do your front teeth have
flat edges or look square? Do
you have random bumps of
bone up under your gums or
bony lumps under your tongue?
Do you have notches in your
teeth right at the gum line?
These may all be signs that you
are demanding more of your
teeth, jaws and muscles than
necessary, resulting in long term
consequences of tmj pain and
damage, muscle pain, and tooth
damage.
If you have discovered that you
clench or grind, what can you
do? As the underlying causes
and diagnoses vary, so do the
recommended
treatments.
Some patients are directed to
physical therapists, ear nose
and throat doctors, and aller-
gists (some find relief through
acupuncture or chiropractic
adjustments). Sometimes, small
adjustments are recommended
to change a patient's bite. Many
are advised to wear an occlusal
guard (like an athletic mouth-
piece but smaller and more
rigid). There are a variety of
guard types with different objec-
tives such as protecting teeth
from wear, reducing muscle
activity, or supporting the tmj’s.
Additionally, some problems are
more complicated and multi
factorial.
You brush to avoid cavities, and
floss to avoid periodontal dis-
ease. Do you need to protect
your teeth from cracking or
abrasions? or reduce muscle
activity? or support your jaw
joints? Your dentist can be a
great resource in diagnosing,
treating and referrals for these
conditions.
PAGE 50
Health and Wellness