Bite or occlusal therapy.

Combating the daily (or nightly) grind.

Chronic stress or high-pressure situations can cause people to develop a damaging habit known as bruxism, or unconsciously biting down with too much force at non-mealtime periods. It can happen at night or during the day, is common in about one-third of the population and is more prevalent among women. Clenching or grinding teeth can be related to poor stress management.  In fact, bruxers (“grinders”) are often personality types who react to stress with anger, pain, frustration, aggression or competition.

Bruxism wears down biting surfaces, misaligns the bite and can lead to serious dental problems. We screen each patient for warning signs, such as unexplained sensitivity in teeth and gums, jaw pain, temporomandibular joint( TMJ) pain, popping and clicking jaws, tense muscles, headaches, extensive wear or flattened teeth, worn enamel, partially exposed sensitive tooth interior (dentin), and/ or tongue indentations. In severe cases, we may find that frequent clenching and grinding has moved the entire jaw out of balance.