Teeth Grinding Can Give You A Headache

Does your partner complain, every morning, about your teeth grinding or teeth clenching keeping them awake?  The very fact that they complained about it keeping them awake made you aware about your habit.  It is always the person sleeping at the side of you who will be able to tell you.  This habit of grinding and clenching the teeth is known as bruxism.

People with irregular or infrequent bruxism do no get affected as much. It does not really show the damage done to the jaws and teeth. It is those who are habitual grinders who get affected. In severe cases it can also damage one’s jaw or hearing.

The question arises as to how would one know if he or she grinds or clenches their teeth? If detected how bruxism can be treated? It has been studied that some people make a noise when grinding their teeth thus making it detectable while some do not make a single sound making it hard to detect.

There are two ways one can know if they have bruxism, first is when your partner complains about it and second is when after a night’s sleep you get up with an ache in your jaws or a slight, persistent headache. Whatever the case, a checkup by the dentist is pertinent.

Consequences of teeth grinding or clenching:

There are many outcomes to teeth grinding two of which are mentioned above:

• Severe toothache
• Sensitive to biting food
• Sensitive to hot or cold food
• In advanced cases the teeth can break or result in fractures
• Tooth loss

Precaution And Treatment
People visiting the dentist usually complain of severe toothache. To stop this toothache the very habit has to be put to an end. Otherwise there are other factors that could cause it and have to be contained:

• Lower stress and relax daily
• Reduce alcohol consumption and intake of caffeine
• If grinding becomes a problem at night ask your dentist to recommend a nightguard
• If your dentist says it is caused because of irregular bite, he may suggest teeth alignment

If you exhibit any symptoms from clenching or bruxism, call our office for a free consultation, (801) 465-3233.  Dr. Gunnerson has extensive training in this area and can offer many different treatments to help you.

Sedation Dentistry -- Is It Safe?

Recently there have been a lot of advertisements on the radio, in magazines, on billboards and even on the television about sedation dentistry.  But what is it?  And more importantly, is it safe?

Sedation dentistry is used to provide a relaxing and anxiety-free experience for certain people receiving dental treatment.  It enables individuals too afraid to go to the dentist to receive the dental care they need while avoiding the excess apprehension known as dental phobia.

According to the Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation (DOCS), 30 percent of the population avoids the dentist due to fear.  This "dental phobia" prevents people from receiving necessary routine dental care, potentially compromising the over-all health and functionality of their mouth and smile.

Sedation is a process used to establish a relaxed, easy and calm state through the use of sedatives.  Sedative drugs (tranquilizers, depressants, anti-anxiety medications, nitrous oxide, etc.) can be administered in a variety of ways.  Nitrous oxide or better known as "laughing gas" has been the predominate way to help patients have a relaxing visit and is available to patients in most dental offices.   However, today more and more dentists are turning to oral sedation (taking medications prior to your dental visit) to help those with dental anxiety receive the dental care they need.

Though there have been reported cases of deaths from oral sedation, many dentists are seeking additional training to provide this service to their patients and it is now becoming a major advertising campaign by many offices to increase the number of patients they treat.  However, it is highly recommended that the use of oral sedation should be reserved for those individuals with severe anxiety concerning dental treatment.

When used properly by a qualified, trained dental provider and under constant monitoring, oral sedation can be a safe and effective way to receive dental care for those with dental anxiety.  I recommend that if you are seeking this type of service, review the credentials of your dental provider.  Check with the state dental board to make sure they are qualified and have received the proper training and licensure to provide this service.  Ask questions about sedation dentistry and make sure all of your questions are answered before receiving this service.

Many patients may ask if their insurance covers this procedure.  Currently most insurance companies do not pay for sedation dentistry.

Our office has always been concerned about the comfort and care our patients receive.  Our goal is to provide an atmosphere of comfort in a safe environment while receiving the best dental care available.
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