Tooth Grinding and clenching is extremely common and is called Bruxism. It is usually stress related, but can also become habitual. It can go on for months or even years in a lot of cases. Bruxism can lead to jaw clicking, headaches, the inability to open our mouths fully, or pain when yawning. It can also damage teeth and in more severe cases it can lead to teeth fractures which sometimes are not possible to repair with a simple filling. Tooth grinding is also a major cause of tooth wear which leads to multiple problems such as tooth sensitivity, loss of tooth height and therefore problems with biting into your food, problems with speech and problems with the way your teeth look. Bruxism can also be a result of malocclusion (the way teeth come together when biting), when the teeth do not align properly.
In cases of bruxism, we usually provide a guard which fits over your upper teeth and helps protect your tooth enamel and can also stop or lessen the effects of grinding over the long term. We also offer Botox to relax the muscles that are involved in grinding and clenching. This way the muscles relax and the bruxing habit stops. Botox will also have aesthetic effects as it leads to facial slimming as well. Dr Theodora Bravis is a registered specialist in Prosthodontics which makes her an expert in treating tooth wear cases. If your teeth have suffered from loss of their initial shape and size and you have cosmetic or functional concerns, we will be happy to see you and discuss how we can bring your bite and smile to its original form. We also offer Invisalign in cases where teeth need to be straightened before the smile is reconstructed.
Thames Dental & Facial Care is situated in Thames Ditton, which is adjacent to Surbiton, Long Ditton and Hinchley Wood. It is also within easy reach of Esher, Hampton, Kingston, Esher, East Molesey, Claygate, Hook, Twickenham and their surrounding areas.
Please call us on 0208 398 9466 or email the practice at info@tdc-staging.cloudlevel-sites-01.co.uk to find out more about our treatments and to book a consultation.
