Teeth Grinding St. Louis
Teeth grinding — clinically known as bruxism — is one of the most common and most underdiagnosed dental conditions. Many people grind or clench during sleep without realizing it, only noticing the effects when a dentist points out worn enamel or a partner mentions the sound. At Kirkwood Family Dental, we regularly diagnose and treat bruxism for St. Louis patients using custom-fitted night guards that protect your teeth and help reduce the strain grinding places on your jaw.
What Teeth Grinding Does Over Time
Bruxism isn't just a nighttime nuisance. It causes real structural damage when left unaddressed. Repeated grinding wears down tooth enamel, which doesn't grow back. As enamel thins, teeth become more sensitive to temperature and more susceptible to decay. Severe or prolonged grinding can fracture teeth, damage existing restorations like crowns and fillings, and contribute to temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction, a condition that causes jaw pain, clicking, headaches, and difficulty opening or closing the mouth fully. Catching and managing bruxism early is one of the most effective ways to prevent expensive restorative treatment later.
Custom Night Guards: A Simple, Effective Solution
The most reliable treatment for sleep bruxism is a custom-fitted night guard, a protective appliance worn over the teeth during sleep that absorbs the force of grinding and prevents tooth-to-tooth contact. Unlike over-the-counter options, a custom night guard is made from precise impressions of your teeth, ensuring a fit that stays in place comfortably throughout the night and provides full coverage where it's needed most. At Kirkwood Family Dental, we use our intraoral scanner to capture accurate digital impressions — no messy traditional impression materials required — so your night guard is fabricated to fit your mouth exactly.
Treating Bruxism at Kirkwood Family Dental
Many patients aren't aware they grind until we identify the signs during a routine exam. Worn enamel, flattened or chipped tooth surfaces, sensitivity, and jaw muscle tenderness are all indicators we look for during a comprehensive evaluation. If we suspect TMJ involvement, our 3D Cone Beam CT Scanner allows us to evaluate the joint and surrounding structures in detail, providing a clearer picture of whether bruxism has affected the jaw beyond the teeth themselves. From there, we'll recommend a treatment approach based on the severity of your case and discuss what a custom night guard would involve.
Teeth Grinding St. Louis: FAQs
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Common signs include waking up with a sore jaw or headache, tooth sensitivity that wasn't there before, worn or flattened tooth surfaces, and a partner reporting grinding sounds during sleep. In many cases, patients find out during a routine dental exam when a dentist identifies wear patterns on the teeth.
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Yes. Bruxism causes cumulative damage even when it's painless. Enamel wears down gradually over time, and the effects — sensitivity, fractures, and TMJ problems — often don't become noticeable until significant damage has occurred. Early treatment is much simpler and less costly than addressing the damage after it's progressed.
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Over-the-counter night guards are made to generic sizes and rarely fit well, which can cause them to shift during sleep or be uncomfortable enough that patients stop wearing them. A custom night guard is fabricated from precise impressions of your specific teeth, providing a secure fit, consistent coverage, and long-term durability that store-bought options can't match.
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Yes. Bruxism is relatively common in children, particularly during periods of tooth development. In many cases it resolves on its own, but it's worth mentioning to your dentist so wear patterns can be monitored. We'll let you know if intervention is appropriate based on your child's specific situation.
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A night guard protects the teeth from damage but doesn't address the root cause of bruxism, which can include stress, sleep disorders, bite misalignment, or other factors. We'll discuss the most likely contributing factors in your case and whether any additional evaluation or referral is appropriate alongside protective treatment.
Protect Your Teeth from Grinding and Bruxism Before the Damage Adds Up
Kirkwood Family Dental treats teeth grinding for St. Louis patients with custom-fitted night guards and comprehensive care for the jaw.
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