To determine if you have bruxism, you will need to schedule an initial examination, during which East Columbus Periodontic and Implant Dentistry will inspect for indications of enamel loss and the overall severity of your case. If you have a more severe case you might need to have a dental crown placed, or if you have a less severe case you may simply need to begin wearing a nightguard.

If you are diagnosed with bruxism, it is important to schedule your treatment as soon as possible. If left untreated, bruxism can cause the following issues to develop:

• Occlusal trauma: Bruxism will result in continued friction and pressure being placed on the surfaces of your teeth, which will eventually weaken the chewing surfaces. Once these surfaces have become worn down, they are more prone to cracking.
• Facial pain: Patients with untreated bruxism frequently complain about persistent pain around their jaw, as well as facial swelling and frequent headaches.
• Gum recession: Untreated bruxism is a primary reason that you can develop periodontal disease that leads to gum recession, and if left untreated long enough, tooth loss. Due to the excessive grinding of your teeth, damage occurs to the soft tissue, which will cause the teeth to become loose. Once your teeth become loosened, the pockets between the gums become deeper, which then allows for additional bacteria to become trapped. When this happens, the structure of the tooth and the jawbone will begin to decay.
• TMJ: Everyone has two temporomandibular joints (TMJ), one on the left and one on the right. If left untreated, bruxism will eventually damage one or both these joints, which can result in you developing TMJ. Symptoms usually manifest as rustling, clicking, or popping in the jaw joint, along with muscle or jaw joint pain. Other symptoms include tinnitus, headaches, difficulty opening your jaw or a jaw that locks in place, and even numbness in your fingertips and face.