Bruxism Treatment in State College, PA

The habit of grinding or clenching your teeth at night, also known as bruxism, is an everyday issue that affects many individuals. While the most prominent symptom is worn tooth enamel or restorations, nocturnal bruxism might also lead to headaches, jaw pain, gum recession, and discomfort in your neck and shoulder. To guard your mouth against bruxism, our experienced general dentists provide custom night guards and other treatment options that can minimize these effects. Custom night guards are made with high-quality materials that fit comfortably over your teeth and improve the nature of your sleep by eliminating jaw clenching and teeth grinding. If you would like to learn more about custom night guards and other options for care at Advanced Dentistry of Centre County, we invite you to set up a consultation at our State College, PA facility.

A number of indicators may suggest that you are grinding your teeth and/or clenching your jaw at night:

• Pain in your jaw, headaches, or facial swelling
• Flattened biting or chewing edges on your teeth
• Loose or damaged fillings, crowns, or other restorations
• Receding gums or tooth sensitivity

Teeth grinding and jaw clenching often accompany stress and anxiety but may result from misaligned teeth, allergies, a sleep disorder, or temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD), along with other factors. While our dentists in State College, PA, are diagnosing your bruxism, they will also try to determine the cause to help treat your condition in the most comprehensive way.

After our dentists diagnose a bruxism condition in State College, PA, they will help you determine the best course of care for your lifestyle and needs. In some cases, our team will take oral impressions to create a custom night guard. These appliances are worn comfortably in your mouth while you sleep and keep the upper and lower teeth in good alignment with one another. Night guards can protect your teeth and jaw from further damage that results from the friction of grinding your teeth together or clenching your jaw. In other instances, bruxism treatment may consist of occlusal adjustments where our dentists even out the interface between the upper and lower teeth to bring harmony and comfort to the bite. Cases of tooth misalignment that are creating a teeth grinding or clenching habit may be best treated with orthodontics while palliative care (hot and warm compresses, jaw exercises, and nonprescription anti-inflammatories) may help to minimize the discomfort caused by chronic teeth grinding and jaw clenching.

For your bruxism care to be most effective, it is important to follow treatment recommendations closely, such as wearing your night guard appliance each time you sleep. Night guards can minimize or alleviate the discomfort and dental problems caused by grinding or clenching and protect your teeth and jaw. If you are a candidate for orthodontic care to correct bite misalignment from teeth grinding, our dentists can provide and manage the full course of your care from the convenience of our family dental practice. While some bruxism treatments, such as occlusal adjustments, may not need follow-up care, please let us know if your symptoms still persist after your visit. Our dentists will evaluate your mouth and jaw at each of your routine dental exam visits and can adjust your night guard or course of care as needed to optimize your treatment results.

Coverage for treating cases of bruxism may vary according to individual plans and policies. Before getting started with your night guard or other types of care, our business team will contact your insurance carrier to review your benefits and determine any personal costs. To help make your treatment affordable and convenient, Advanced Dentistry partners with CareCredit for low-cost financing solutions and accepts a number of easy payment options.

Teeth grinding and jaw clenching can diminish your oral health, comfort, and quality of life in several ways. At Advanced Dentistry of Centre County, our dentists offer the experienced bruxism care needed to minimize the effects of this common condition. Whether a night guard or other treatment approach is ideal for you, our team can help you enjoy the benefits of a good night's sleep. Contact our State College, PA practice today to reserve your bruxism evaluation.