Q: I have implants, porcelain veneers and crowns. My dentist tells me I am grinding my teeth. My husband says he does not hear or see me grinding them. What do you think can be going on? Gina in Wellington
A: At the start of my Monday night yoga class, Connie the yogini always asks us to relax and “feel the space between our upper and lower teeth.” It is amazing how every time she says this, the whole class finds their teeth clenched together and must consciously separate the teeth upon her command. (Sometimes her voice is so soothing; I wake up an hour later, missing the whole class.)
The point is it is most likely during the daytime that you are gnashing your teeth together. Stress clenching and chewing would be the times for tooth to tooth contact, if you are not a Nocturnal Bruxer, or “Knight Grinder”. (Wasn’t Nicholas Cage in that movie?)
There is nothing wrong using a thin, clear “day-guard” while at work that your dentist can make for you on custom impressions of your teeth. You can take it out when you eat and use it at night too. If your doctor determines that your traumatic bite is contributing to headaches, ear aches and tinnitus (ringing in your ears), a dentist well versed in TMJS (temporo mandibular joint syndrome) may be needed.
It is important that after major porcelain or implant dental work, “grinders” should consider having a bruxism appliance made to protect their investment.
Dr. Mitchell Josephs practices Cosmetic, Implant and General Dentistry in Palm Beach and hosts “Tooth Talk” on WBZT AM1230 (www.radiotoothtalk.com) Dr. Mitchell Josephs is a Faculty Advisory Board member at McGill University’s Faculty of Dentistry and completed his residency at Manhattan’s Beth Israel Medical Center and Mt. Sinai Hospital.
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