SERVICES > DENTISTRY > Bruxism, TMJ and Occlusion
Many patients come to our clinic without knowing that the cause of their headaches or tooth wear is the involuntary habit of clenching their jaw, especially while they sleep. At Tomás Hernán Dental Clinic, we are experts in diagnosing and treating this condition using high-precision, custom-made occlusal splints.
Bruxism is the term used for teeth grinding or clenching, a habit that can cause changes in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), which connects the jaw to the skull.
The TMJ is the joint that connects the jaw to the skull, allowing the mouth to open and close. It is one of the most used joints in the body. We also use it to speak, chew, swallow, yawn, make facial expressions, etc.
It is increasingly common, and it is estimated that it may affect 80% of the population to a greater or lesser extent, occurring more often in women than in men.
One of the main reasons joint disorders develop is bruxism, or involuntary teeth clenching, which on its own or combined with other factors can begin to cause discomfort, pain, or problems in the joint and surrounding anatomy.
The symptom for which bruxism patients in Carabanchel usually come to the clinic is acute pain that may affect the temporomandibular joint or the chewing muscles, radiating to the face, ear, head, and neck.
Bruxism is the involuntary clenching of the teeth. It is the most common harmful activity in the chewing system; it is widespread in our society and is generally related to situations of stress, anxiety, nervousness, etc.
It usually occurs more during sleep, which generally prevents us from being aware of it.
Teeth are designed for cutting (incisors and canines) and for chewing (premolars and molars). Bruxism is strong and prolonged contact between the tooth surfaces (which are not designed for this).
In general, patients report muscle overload (both in the mouth and in the neck region or back) and pronounced tooth wear, which they attribute to clenching or grinding their teeth, and which does not improve with physiotherapy alone or with medication.
When the teeth are not positioned correctly, the upper arch does not fit properly with the lower one, which forces the jaw to shift to achieve a better fit between the two arches, thereby placing strain on the joints.
For both temporomandibular dysfunction and bruxism (which are closely linked), the symptoms are usually the same.
This is why an occlusal splint helps prevent the consequences that bruxism has on the teeth.
In general, the use of a custom-made splint is usually recommended, to be worn at night, and would prevent tooth wear while also relieving the pain caused by this condition.
In addition, at Dr. Hernán’s clinic we have an aesthetic medicine unit led by Dr. José Ángel Molina Molero, where we combine occlusal splint therapy to also treat daytime clenching.
There are 2 types of bruxism:
More than 50% of headaches have this etiology.
