Tooth grinding and clenching (also called “Bruxism”) is very common, and we all do it to some degree. Traditionally, clenching and grinding was thought to be a “parafunctional habit,” suggesting a disease or psychological disorder brought on by stress. Although stress can trigger episodes of grinding, some very intriguing new research now suggests that grinding may be an instinctive, normal, perhaps even necessary jaw function. Tooth grinding is thought to be a normal function that keeps the teeth well-fitted for more efficient chewing.

For most of human history, human beings seldom survived past the age of perhaps 35 or 40. Functionally, milling and grinding the teeth would improve chewing ability, therefore assuring the ability to chew a larger variety of foods. This resulted in longer survival and more children. So, there would be a definite advantage for tooth grinding to be a beneficial hereditary trait.

Now, with modern science and medicine we are living past the age of 70, 80, even 90. We retain this grinding trait. Evolution has not had time to catch up, so we have yet to evolve thicker enamel on our teeth. We have learned how to prevent gum disease and decay, but we still have significant tooth damage from wearing down and fracture from clenching and grinding.

Only a few generations ago, nobody expected to keep their teeth past 50. Then, we expected to avoid dentures, but did not expect our teeth to be cosmetically pleasing as we age. Now, the newest paradigm is the hope we will have our natural teeth for a lifetime, for them to be comfortable, AND to have an attractive smile. Perhaps this is a uniquely American hope, but like it or not, our culture judges us on appearance.

One of the services we excel in is helping you to restore your teeth so they are healthy, comfortable and attractive! This can be done in a variety of ways, whether you simply need Tooth Whitening, Porcelain Veneers, Crowns, Bridges, Implants or even Full Mouth Reconstruction. Protective plastic Mouth Guards can be fitted to protect teeth against wear.

TMJ is an acronym for Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome. Symptoms can include popping or clicking noises in the jaw joints, earache and/or ringing in the ear, pain and sometimes swelling of the jaw and/or jaw muscles, stiffness upon opening, limited ability to open your jaw wide and occasionally the jaw locking open. Although it sounds scary and complex, basically TMJ is similar to a sprained ankle or knee. It is usually caused by over-exertion and pressure on the cartilage of your jaw joint(s) from lots of clenching and grinding.

We frequently see people who went to their medical doctor with earache, went on to a specialist and were told they did not have an ear infection, and were told to see their dentist. Because excessive clenching pressure sprains the jaw joints, you can get fluid accumulation in the jaw joint, which is next to the ear canal. This can mimic an ear infection. You can get cramping of the jaw muscles to the point of swelling and pain in front of the ear, which can be mistaken for a tooth abscess.

Often, treatment can involve simple methods such as soft diet, anti-inflammatory medicine, moist-heat physical therapy and protective plastic mouth guards to keep the jaw joints and muscles protected. Just like any other sprain, it can take a while for symptoms to settle down. Then we teach you home care prevention methods to minimize recurrence of the symptoms. If you have later stage or complex TMJ problems, we can refer you to colleagues who focus on those with more complex TMJ problems.