Teeth Grinding (Bruxism)
Online Dental Education Library
Our team of dental specialists and staff strive to improve the overall health of our patients by focusing on preventing, diagnosing and treating conditions associated with your teeth and gums. Please use our dental library to learn more about dental problems and treatments available. If you have questions or need to schedule an appointment, contact us.
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Amalgam Filling (Posterior)
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Anterior Open Bite
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Apicoectomy
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Bar Retained Dentures
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Bone Graft (Socket Preservation)
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Bone Graft with Immediate Implant Placement
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Bridge (CAD/CAM)
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Bridge (Impression)
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Bridge Versus an Implant
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Clear Aligner Technology (CAD/CAM)
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Clear Aligner Technology (Impression)
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Composite Filling (Anterior)
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Composite Filling (Posterior)
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Composite Versus Amalgam Filling
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Connective Tissue Graft
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Cracked Tooth
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Debridement
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Filling Versus Crown (CAD/CAM)
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Filling Versus Crown (Impression)
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Free Gingival Graft
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Gingival Probing and Pocket Depth
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Gingivitis
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Impacted Third Molar
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Implant-Supported Bridge (Anterior-Impression)
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Inlay (CAD/CAM)
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Inlay Impression
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Locator Retained Overdenture
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Locator Retained Overdenture (Reline)
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Obstructive Sleep Apnea
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Occlusal Appliance for Tooth Wear
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Onlay (CAD/CAM)
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Onlay (Impression)
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Periodontitis
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Progression of Decay
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Recurrent Decay (Around a Restoration)
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Removable Complete Dentures
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Removable Partial Dentures
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Root Canal
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Root Canal (No File)
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Scaling and Root Planing
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Screw Retained Dentures
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Screw Retained Implant Posterior
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Screw-Retained Implant (Anterior-Immediate Load)
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Simple Extraction
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Single Crown (CAD/CAM)
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Single Crown (Impression)
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Single Implant (Anterior - Healing Cap)
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Single Implant (Anterior-Immediate Load)
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Single Implant (Posterior - Healing Cap)
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Single Tooth Loss
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Sinus Lift
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Surgical Extraction (3rd Molar)
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Surgical Extraction (Other)
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Understanding Tooth Wear
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Veneers (CAD/CAM)
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Veneers (Impression)
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Whitening with Bleaching Tray
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Teeth grinding, also called bruxism, is often viewed as a harmless, though annoying, habit. Some people develop bruxism from an inability to deal with stress or anxiety.
However, teeth grinding can literally transform your bite relationship and worse, severely damage your teeth and jaws over long periods of time.
Teeth grinding can cause abrasion to the chewing surfaces of your teeth. This abnormal wear and tear will prematurely age and loosen your teeth, and open them to problems such as hypersensitivity (from the small cracks that form, exposing your dentin). Bruxism can also lead to chronic jaw and facial pain, as well as headaches.
If no one has told you that you grind your teeth, here are a few clues that you may suffer from bruxism:
- Your jaw is often sore, or you hear popping sounds when you open and close your mouth.
- Your teeth look abnormally short or worn down.
- You notice small dents in your tongue.
Bruxism is somewhat treatable. A common therapy involves use of a special appliance worn while sleeping. Less intrusive, though just as effective methods could involve biofeedback, and behavior modification, such as tongue exercises and learning how to properly align your tongue, teeth and lips.