Normally, 10 to 15 percent of people grind but during the economic downturn many dentists who treat bruxism have seen an increase in stress-related grinding. Traditionally, grinding appears in middle-age and women have typically been the ones seeking treatment. Today however, more neuromuscular dentists are reporting an increase in male patients.

The damage caused by untreated bruxism can be severe. Normal chewing puts about 68 pounds of pressure per square inch on the back teeth, grinding unconsciously at night can cause up of 900 pounds of pressure. Little wonder that teeth break and wear down. This pressure also causes inflammation and damage to the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) leading to facial pain, jaw clicking and headaches.

The treatment for bruxism? For many cases a custom orthotic (sometimes called a night guard) protects the teeth from wear and places the jaw in a position that reduces stress on the temporomandibular joint. For patients who have been grinding their teeth for a long time a full-mouth reconstruction may be needed to correct the damage.

In the Columbus area your neuromuscular dentist is Dr. Mark Levy at StoneRidge Dental Care. Please contact us today at 614-476.6696 if you are experiencing the signs of tooth grinding. Speedy treatment will allow us to stop further damage and start the healing process.

One often overlooked reason for migraine headache is tooth grinding during sleep. This condition is known as bruxism and has several causes. Some bruxism starts with stress or anxiety, for others it may be a sign of an underlying sleep disorder and for many it is characteristic of  a temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ).   The temporomandibular joint or jaw joint is among the most complex in the human body.

Chronic grinding and clenching of the teeth usually occurs during sleep and most patients do not know they are grinding. More than half of adults grind or clench occasionally but even children suffer from bruxism. Obvious side effects of grinding are severe headache, often misdiagnosed as migraines, worn and broken teeth, clicking in the jaw and severe neck and facial pain.

Treatment for TMJ disorders may include a custom orthotic device that protects the teeth and jaw muscles while sleeping. An experience neuromuscular dentist can diagnose and suggest appropriate treatment for bruxism and TMJ disorders.

To find out more information about solving your headache problem once and for all please contact our Columbus area office at 614-476-6696 today.

Whatever the cause the outcome is usually the same. Bruxism causes the teeth to wear down and the stress on the jaw joint leads to temporomandibular joint pain and dysfunction (TMJ) with symptoms including facial pain, headache, neck and back pain and even changes in hearing. Over time the teeth continue to wear which changes the bite, which adds to the stress on the jaw joint and can also include damage to the gums and facial muscles. Since stopping bruxism from happening is almost impossible, the answer lies in protecting the teeth, TMJ and muscles with a bruxism appliance created by a neuromuscular dentist.

A neuromuscular dentist is someone who has advanced training in how the musculature of the head and neck work together with the jaw joint and teeth. By finding the optimal position for your jaw and creating a custom appliance that will hold your jaw in that position during sleep the damage from bruxism can be avoided. For those patients who have already experienced severe damage to their teeth from this condition a full mouth restoration may be the answer.

If you are experiencing frequent headaches, facial or jaw pain you may be grinding your teeth. Early intervention is vital to protecting the health of your teeth and jaw joint. Please contact our office at 614-476-6696 today to schedule your evaluation.

Migraines or frequent, continual headaches may be a sign of temporomandibular joint dysfunction or TMJ. This is especially true of headaches that occur in the morning.  The temporomandibular joint (jaw joint) is one of the most complex in the human body. Common causes of TMJ pain include accidents, bruxism (grinding teeth at night) or a bad bite (malocclusion).

Malocclusion can occur for many reasons. Teeth may not fit together properly because of old, broken dental work, misaligned teeth or missing teeth. A dentist who has specialized training in the field of neuromuscular dentistry has the ability to correct the improper bite and relieve stress on the temporomandibular joint, allowing the muscles surrounding the joint to relax. This relieves the recurring headaches and the neck and shoulder pain that often accompany them.

If you suffer from frequent, recurring headaches please contact StoneRidge Dental Care at 614-476-6696 today to schedule your appointment for a TMJ evaluation.

Tiny chips are usually not a bother. But large chips and cracks in teeth or in fillings can lead to pain or permanent tooth damage. If you recognized yourself in this list of bad habits – it is time to stop. No more ice munching, no more crunching hard candy or cough drops. Protecting your teeth from damage will save you discomfort and hours in the dental chair repairing problem teeth.

Once a tooth has been damaged the treatment required to restore that tooth will vary depending upon the type of crack or chip, how bad the crack or chip is and where it is located in your mouth. For some simple repairs dental bonding or tooth contouring may be all that is needed. Porcelain veneers or crowns are usually needed to fix badly damaged teeth. Old, cracked mercury silver fillings are always replaced using modern dental restoration materials that do not contain mercury.

In the Columbus, Ohio area please contact StoneRidge Dental Care today at 614-476-6696 to schedule your appointment. Cracked or broken teeth will not heal themselves and the problems will only get worse over time.  Call today to discuss your options for repairing damaged teeth.

Don’t forget to schedule the dental check-up as well.  For college age kids this is the last chance to spot problems before they crop up when your son or daughter is far from home.  For younger children this is a good opportunity to arrange their dental visit before school and extracurricular activities overflow the family schedule.

Children who are participating in sports should be fitted for a mouthguard to protect their teeth during play.  If you have a child that is participating in sports at a very advanced level you may want to discuss a performance mouthguard like the Makkar Pure Power Mouthguard (PPM).  PPM mouthguards are used by elite athletes in many sports and are scientifically proven to improve performance.

The school year can also be a stressful time.  Many young people, particularly high school and college age students, react to stress by grinding their teeth during sleep.  This condition is called bruxism and can cause jaw problems as well as wearing down or breaking teeth.  As an experienced neuromuscular dentist, Dr. Levy can diagnose and treat nocturnal teeth grinding preventing further damage and discomfort.

Please contact our Gahanna, Ohio office today at 614-476-6696 to schedule examinations for your family.  Our office is mercury-free and utilizes digital x-rays to reduce radiation exposure  – your family’s overall health and their healthy smiles are important to us – please call today.

1. Do NOT chew gum.
2. Apply cold packs. Apply an ice pack to the side of your face for 10 minutes (wrap in a towel to protect your skin).   Reapply after 20-30 minutes.
3. Eat a soft diet. Stick to soft foods such as yogurt, mashed potatoes, cottage cheese, scrambled eggs and soup.  The idea is to rest your jaw muscles as much as possible.  Don’t eat hard, crunchy foods like raw carrots, pretzels or really chewy foods.
4. Avoid opening your mouth too wide. Try to keep your mouth movements small when you yawn.  Do not order the overstuffed sandwich or the double bacon cheeseburger.  You will be more comfortable if you avoid extreme jaw movement.
5. Hold the Phone. This means hold it with your hand, not between your ear and shoulder.
6. Don’t Rest Your Chin - Do you rest your chin on your hand?  Time to stop.  Also, check your pillow position at night – find a comfortable position that doesn’t place pressure on your face or jaw.
7. Lips Together, Teeth Apart – Practice keeping your teeth slightly apart to help avoid unconscious clenching or grinding of your teeth during the day.
8. Try Over The Counter Medications. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such as ibuprofin (Advil, Motrin, etc.) can be purchased at your local retailer.  Follow the dosing directions carefully and remember to always have food in your stomach before you take these medications (see #3 above) because they can injure your stomach lining.

Hopefully these tips will help alleviate some of the pain, headaches and other symptoms you are experiencing until your appointment.  They are not a treatment for temporomandibular joint dysfunction and will not replace a visit to your neuromuscular dentist.   Proper diagnosis and treatment of your individual case is necessary to avoid further damage to the jaw joint.

In Gahanna, Ohio please contact Dr. Mark Levy today at 614-476-6696 to schedule your consultation.  Relief from the pain and headaches associated with TMD are only a phone call away.

A temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) is a problem with the jaw joint and surrounding muscles.  Symptoms of TMD include:

• Pain or tenderness in the jaw, face, neck or shoulders
• Limited range of opening the mouth
• Clicking or popping noises in the jaw
• Difficulty or discomfort chewing
• Headaches or migraines
• Swelling in the jaw area
• Dizziness
• Tinnitus or ringing in the ears or a feeling of “fullness” in the ears
• Ear aches
• Toothaches

With so many varied symptoms it is not unusual for patients to visit many different specialists and undergo many tests before finally being diagnosed correctly.

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above you may be suffering from TMD.  An experienced neuromuscular dentist  can perform a clinical examination to determine whether or not your jaw joint is the cause of your symptoms.   Treatment options for TMD will vary by patient depending upon the severity of the problem and the underlying cause.  I will discuss some basic, conservative self-care techniques in my next blog.  While these techniques will not replace proper treatment they may make you more comfortable until your appointment.

TMD problems do not typically “go away” and putting off treatment may only make the problem worse.  Please contact my Columbus, Ohio neuromuscular dental office today at 614-476-6696 to schedule a consultation.

The temporomandibular joint is one of the most complicated structures in the human body.  Damage can be caused by accidents, poor bite or often because of teeth grinding due to stress.  The Mayo Clinic estimates that 5 to 15 percent of Americans suffer from some type of pain connected with TMJ disorders.

Symptoms often include blinding headaches.  Patients may have facial or jaw pain, clicking noises in the jaw joint or a feeling of “fullness” in the ears or tinnitus (ringing in the ears).  Each patient may have a different combination of symptoms – or only one.

Proper diagnosis by a trained neuromuscular dentist is an important first step.   A neuromuscular dentist has been specially trained to diagnose and treat injuries to the temporomandibular joint and its surrounding muscles – a subject that is not studied in depth by most general dentists.

Treatment options vary for each individual but a common and highly effective treatment involves the creation of a custom orthotic appliance.  This appliance is normally worn at night and allows your jaw muscles to stay in their most relaxed position.

If headaches are inpacting your life contact Dr. Mark Levy today at 614-454-3488 in the Columbus, Ohio area.

COLUMBUS, OH – We keep learning more about the negative effects that stress has on our physical health.  But did you know that stress also takes a toll on your teeth?  Dr. Jennifer Ashton, medical correspondent,  discussed this matter on the CBS Early Show.  All across the country dental offices are seeing more and more people abnormally grinding their teeth.

Grinding the teeth in this manner is called Bruxism.  Dr. Ashton explained how teeth grinding can do more than just damage the teeth – it can also affect the muscles surrounding the head and neck which leads to other problems including temporomandibular joint dysfunction or TMJ, for short.

Typically patients do not even know they are grinding their teeth.  Many times their spouse complains about the grinding noise at night and that is how the problem is discovered.  You may be grinding if you have these symptoms:

• Unusual headaches, especially in the morning
• Tooth sensitivity
• Facial pain
• Jaw joint pain
• Biting the inside of your cheek

The New York Times reported that an increase of 20-25% in bruxism has been seen in a dental practice they surveyed.

Protecting your teeth and jaw joint from TMJ and other damage caused by bruxism calls for a visit to your neuromuscular dentist.  While Dr. Levy can’t get rid of the stress in your life, he can create a custom orthotic appliance that will save your teeth, jaw joints and muscles from further damage and allow them to heal.

Protect your teeth and overall health by scheduling a consultation with Dr. Levy to discuss your dental health needs.  In the Columbus, Ohio area contact us at 614-454-3488.