March 6th, 2010 amogell
Neuromuscular Dentistry – Stress and Teeth Grinding
COLUMBUS, OH – These are stressful times – and people exhibit this stress in different ways. One of the most common is clenching and grinding your teeth. This is called bruxism and most patients never realize that they are grinding their teeth until it causes painful problems.
Should you be concerned that you might be grinding your teeth? Absolutely! The act of bruxism can literally chew away the enamel on your teeth. The American Dental Association (ADA) states that up to 50% of the American population has experienced some form of bruxism or teeth grinding at some point in their lives. Most often, this grinding occurs at night while asleep which is why patients don’t know they have the problem.
There are some signs to look for:
- Do you wake up with sore jaws or jaw joints?
- Do you wake up with headaches?
- Have you experienced tooth breakage?
You might also ask your spouse or a friend to take note to see if you are clenching or grinding your teeth while sleeping. Chronic bruxism can lead to dental problems and even temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ). A trained neuromuscular dentist can help with bruxism. By wearing a specially designed orthotic appliance while you sleep you can protect your teeth and jaw joints from damage.
If you are showing symptoms of bruxism or have questions about this common problem and how neuromuscular dentistry can help, please contact Dr. Mark Levy at 614-454-3488.
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February 15th, 2010 amogell
Grinding Your Teeth and Sleep Apnea
COLUMBUS, OH – Research presented at a recent scientific assembly of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) found that nearly 1 in 4 patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) also suffer from bruxism, or nighttime teeth grinding. About 8 percent of the US population experiences bruxism, commonly known as teeth grinding, which is associated with TMJ problems, a bad bite or stress.
According to Dr. Shyam Subramanian of Baylor “High levels of anxiety can lead to bruxism, and untreated sleep apnea is known to cause mood disturbances including depression and anxiety. Daytime sleepiness from sleep apnea may cause a person to ingest caffeine, and this has also been associated with a high risk of bruxism.”
Left untreated, teeth grinding causes extreme tooth wear and decay. Gum tissue may be damaged and common complaints include jaw pain, headaches and neck pain – continued teeth grinding may also lead to temporomandibular joint dysfunction.
“Bruxism can be both a daytime syndrome as well as a nighttime syndrome, but it is bruxism during sleep, including short naps, that causes the majority of health issues” said Dr. Subramanian. Fortunately, oral appliance therapy for obstructive sleep apnea is highly effective for treating both OSA and solving the problem of nighttime teeth grinding.
“Sleep disorders such as sleep apnea can lead to many secondary health conditions,” said Dr. Kalpalatha Guntupalli, President of the ACCP. “When treating sleep apnea, clinicians must also recognize and address secondary health conditions, such as bruxism, in order to fully manage a patient’s sleep disorder.” As an experienced neuromuscular and dental sleep medicine practitioner, Dr. Mark Levy is uniquely qualified to meet this need.
If you feel you are grinding your teeth during sleep and have a snoring problem or if you have been diagnosed with OSA contact our office to find out more about oral appliance therapy. Patients in the Columbus, Ohio area call 614-454-3488 or click to arrange a consultation to discuss oral appliance therapy with Dr. Mark Levy.
Posted in Sleep Apnea, Teeth Grinding | 2 Comments »
