How to Help Your Patients Who Grind Their Teeth

As a dentist, it isn’t uncommon for you to be the first one to notice a patient may have a habit of grinding their teeth (bruxism). While bruxism may cause jaw pain, TMJ pain, or headaches in some patients, many others have no symptoms until a dentist notices the wear and tear on their teeth. To make this habit even more difficult to catch is the fact that many patients grind their teeth in their sleep.

In fact, the most current research shows that patients who brux may actually have a sleep disorder breathing problem.  If this is the case, a sleep appliance is the logical treatment of choice.  If the patient is not suffering from a breathing issue, a dual laminate splint may be the solution for their bruxing problem.

Patients can slip the dual laminate splint over their upper or lower teeth before going to bed each night. The splint will absorb the shock of grinding and protect the teeth from additional wear and tear. It might even relieve jaw pain, TMJ pain, and headaches that the patient never realized was associated with their bruxism.

Space Maintainers Laboratories can fabricate custom dual laminate splints for your patients.