Grind your teeth? Here are some options to help you!

Bruxism, TMJ and TMD are all terms for clenching and grinding your teeth. Typically this happens when one is sleeping, and it can cause serious harm to teeth. Grinding and clenching can also cause severe headaches, but what options are out there to help prevent these issues? Glacier Dental has a few different options that range in price and procedure.

Aqualizer

The least expensive option is also a temporary option and it is call an aqualizer. This is a small plastic piece that is not custom made, but fits most adult mouths. It covers the back molars, this way the teeth do not touch when the mouth is closed. Since the teeth are not touching, grinding is less likely. It is not recommended for patients that are heavy clenchers and as stated previously, it really is only a temporary fix for patients who are either waiting to receive other dental work first or saving for a night guard.

NTI-tss

The second night guard option Glacier Dental recommends to several patients is call an NTI-tss night guard, or NTI for short. This is a custom device in which patients wear to bed to help prevent grinding and it clicks in place on the lower jaw. It can also reduce clenching and in return reduce major headaches. It also protects your teeth from wear and if you have had any cosmetic work done on your front teeth, it protects that work from breaking or chipping as well. The NTI process does not involve any numbing, shots or surgery and it can be made in-office in just one visit! It is a great option that will last much longer than an aqualizer.





Often times we hear patients do not like to wear devices to bed, so the final option Glacier Dental likes to offer is Botox. Botox is made up of a purified protein and is used to help relax jaw muscles. It is a non-invasive procedure and takes minutes to do in office. It does not require being numb and the best part is, you do not have to wear a nightguard to bed! According to the American Academy of Facial Esthetics (AAFE), after the Botox is placed in the large muscle that moves the jaw, "the muscle is weakened enough to stop involuntary grinding of the teeth and clenching of the jaw". In return, the muscle is relaxed and clenching and grinding is reduced along with migraines. The AAFE also notes, "voluntary movements, such as chewing and facial expressions, are not affected at all by botox."

Call today to schedule your grinding/clenching consultation and one of our Doctors will help find the best treatment for you! 920.235.3251