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Dental splint therapy

Dental rail therapy

Teeth grinding gnawing during sports snoring therapy

gnashing of teeth
Our opinion

They grate with their teeth?

According to official estimates, about one in ten adults in Germany grinds their teeth, with the proportion of women being higher than that of men. A common reason for nocturnal teeth grinding is stress, which we literally “take to bed with.” During sleep, the stress is unconsciously passed on to the masticatory muscles – a mental pressure becomes a physical pressure. Sometimes the triggers for nocturnal crunch can be found in the mouth itself. For example, disturbing tooth contacts may be the reason for this.

Consequences of the crunch

The pressure exerted on the teeth, jaws, jaw muscles and temporomandibular joints during crunching or pressing is generally much greater than with normal chewing. The possible consequences of this high stress are especially morning muscle and jaw joint pain, jaw cracking and damage to the teeth (excessive tooth wear, cracks in the enamel u.v.m.).

In addition, teeth grinding is one of the most common triggers of a dysfunction in the causal system called craniomandibular dysfunction (CMD). This can be manifested by many symptoms. The possible symptoms range from facial and headaches to migraines, tinnitus, shoulder, neck and back problems.

treatment options

Remedy can first create a plastic crunching rail. It protects the teeth against abrasion and relaxes chewing muscles and temporomandibular joints. In addition, muscle loosening and relaxation exercises can help. “Crunched teeth” may be rebuilt with composite fillings.

In order to prevent TMJ problems and craniomandibular dysfunction or to eliminate existing complaints, a closer examination is first necessary. The subsequent treatment depends on the individual diagnosis and can be done with certain splints. In addition, in addition to the dental treatment, it is sometimes advisable or necessary to work with other specialists or physiotherapists.

If stress or a mental tension is the cause of the crunch, you should look for ways to reduce it.

Additional information

In everyday life, we often swallow our anger and we take our problems literally to bed. The pent-up mental pressure is unconsciously transmitted to the muscles of the masticatory apparatus and they cramp. The result is teeth grinding, in the vernacular bruxism. In the morning, teeth and jaws hurt. Incorrectly inserted fillings, prostheses or inlays can still be used as a trigger for nocturnal crunching.

If the crunch occurs over a long period of time, the teeth are gradually abraded and the chewing surfaces lose their shape. The temporomandibular joints and bones as well as the muscles on the face and neck are also stressed.

In extreme cases, it can even lead to the blockage of the jaw. Headache or backache are another consequence.

If fillings or inlays are the cause, we can help. If there are psychological reasons, you should get information from a suitable specialist or your own GP, ​​for example about relaxation methods.

A tip: Anxiety or stress should not be “taken to bed” so that the nights are restful and the teeth stay healthy.

What are the symptoms of crunching?

It often happens that people do not notice that they grind their teeth while they sleep. With up to 40 kilograms per square centimeter, they put their teeth highest exertion. At most, they are surprised after getting up that their jaw hurts strangely or they suffer from symptoms such as headache or muscle tension in the neck and neck area.

Often it is the partner who points out the affected people only on the nocturnal crunch.

The German Society of Dental, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (DGZMK) suspects that about one in three people put a dent in their teeth. Investigations have shown that the nocturnal crunch phase can in some cases last up to three quarters of an hour.

What are the causes of teeth grinding??

In general, there are two major topics that can be considered as causes of teeth grinding: On the one hand, fillings, inlays and dentures that are no longer (exactly) the right fit or not exactly made, may be responsible for this. For example, this can lead to false contacts, which we want to unconsciously eliminate with the crunching. Mental pressure and stress can also manifest in the crunch. The tension is transmitted to the muscles and thus to the teeth.

What consequences can the crunch have?

When crunching, jaw and facial muscles are overworked, which can lead to inflammation. The same applies to the articular surfaces and joint capsules of the temporomandibular joint.

If patients notice a clicking sound, then the joint disc in the middle of the temporomandibular joint has slipped due to the greater load. In extreme cases, it can happen that the jaw is blocked and the person concerned is then unable to open or close his mouth.

Other muscle groups are overused as well. Headaches, neck pain, blurred vision are possible consequences, in addition tinnitus (ear noises). The pain can spread to the spine and cause back pain to permanent postural damage.

For the teeth themselves, the effects are that the contours are scraped off at an angle and the occlusal surfaces of molars become smoother. This leads to unfavorable balance of power. Bleeding gums, loosened teeth, and noticeably pronounced masticatory muscles can indicate crunching, as well as cracks in the external enamel. Sometimes the decline of the gum threatens. Enamel is the hardest material in our body, but it will not stand up to the nightly attacks.

As a rule, it is the superficial tooth areas that are abraded. In most patients, the condition stagnates at this stage. In very rare cases, the tooth crown is reduced so much that only the tooth neck and root are left.

When is a treatment required??

If you notice that your teeth and teeth are hurting over a long period of time, or if your partner draws your attention to it, a visit to our dental practice is recommended.

Even if the toothache disappears for some time: make an appointment anyway. Mental conflicts often cause teeth grinding until the problem is resolved. If a new stressful situation occurs, then the teeth grinding begins again and again.

How can we handle the crunching??

Before further causes are clarified and in order to prevent further crunching, we first manufacture for you a crunching rail (also: bite rail) made of plastic. The direct contact between the upper and lower rows of teeth is avoided in this way and for the time being this is gentler on the teeth. At night, place the crunch bar on the lower row of teeth.

To investigate the cause more closely, we can in the second step using the so-called functional analysis Check how the interaction of teeth, gums, chewing muscles, jaws and jaw joints looks like.

Among other things, we examine the movements of the lower jaw and palpate the temporomandibular joints with our hands. The masticatory muscles are checked for hardening and painful areas, and the jaw is then x-rayed. So you can see if the crunch has already affected the jawbone and joint substance. If necessary, we produce an impression of the dentition, which can be used to detect incorrect loading of the jaw in the laboratory.

If crowns, dentures, bridges or fillings are responsible for the crunch, their fit should be corrected.

In addition to the bite splint, a “bite splint” can be made, which prevents further damage to the teeth. It is also made of plastic, is placed on the lower row of teeth at night and keeps the teeth from crunching, pressing or grinding. It corrects the position of the rows of teeth. If necessary, it can also be worn during the day.

As a rule, however, you do not get used to crunching or crushing when the causes are of a psychological nature. Therefore, it is advisable to learn relaxation techniques or to seek further support from professionals.

What helps with mental stress?

There are several ways to combat mental stress and muscle tension that causes teeth grinding.

Massages and thermal treatments often help the physiotherapist. In addition, you can learn relaxation methods to deal with stress better. These include progressive muscle relaxation according to Jacobson, autogenic training or yoga. Basically, for those affected: the quieter and more relaxed you go to bed, the better. An evening walk or a hot bath can help.

If the cause of the teeth grinding is not recognizable, some experts recommend the “behavioral self-control”. It assumes that you first have to experience the pressing and crunching yourself before you can relax. During the day, they learn to pay attention to the relaxed posture of the jaw and masticatory muscles. In this, the teeth of the upper and lower rows of teeth do not touch. They should correct themselves according to this model. The more often you do that, the greater the chance of success.

It is always advisable that you investigate the causes of your mental tension. Often there are temporary stress periods that you are exposed to: exam anxiety, reorientation, relocation or similar. It is usually worthwhile reviewing one’s own processing strategies and learning how to handle these situations better.

What benefit does a treatment have??

Pronounced “crunching” often suffer from tooth, jaw or muscle pain throughout the day. Especially when talking or chewing, the consequences of nocturnal crunch can be felt. Additional headache and neck pain affect performance and concentration.

The crunching and discomfort often also disturbs restful sleep, so that the patient may be tired and exhausted during the day.

A treatment relieves or eliminates these problems. They sleep well again and are efficient during the day. The treatment of the emotional factors not only helps to grind your teeth but also increases your overall well-being.

This way your own dental health can be maintained and the quality of life improved.

Teeth protection during sports

Sport is healthy and fun. Children and adolescents often like sports that sometimes go “to the point” like football or karate, but sometimes they are not adequately skillful and some sports are inherently at risk for dental injuries.

Many injuries to the teeth and mouth, especially in childhood and adolescence, can be attributed to sports accidents, but adults can also experience tooth damage. Mostly it hits the upper incisors and these are often lost as a whole to replace the tooth, sometimes elaborate dental treatments are necessary.

These unsightly consequences of healthy exercise are easy to avoid: For all sports with body contact or with the risk to fall, a mouthguard is recommended.

The indiv >

The best solution is splints that are made individually for your dentition and your jaw. For this purpose, an impression is taken in the dental practice. From these data, a gypsum model is produced in the dental laboratory, to which the mouthguard is adapted from a plastic foil about three to four millimeters thick. In practice, it is finally checked whether the two toothed rails are sitting correctly.

With these rails, the teeth are best protected. In addition, they are more comfortable to wear and can be adapted in children and adolescents to fixed braces and teeth coming out.

How do I care for my mouthguard?

Clean the splints after use with a toothbrush and rinse with a mild soap solution and then with water. Keep your mouthguard similar to contact lenses in a lockable plastic container.

Dental snoring therapy

This topic is as much joked as it is also hushed: the snoring.

About 30 million Germans or up to 40% of the population in industrial nations snore. Those affected know the problems that arise in everyday life from the nocturnal disturbance for them and their surroundings. These include exhaustion during the day, chronic fatigue, lack of concentration and a higher susceptibility to infections, just to name a few possible consequences for the snorer and his partner. Not to mention the mental and emotional problems. However, the fact that behind the snoring a serious clinical picture, namely sleep apnea syndrome, can hide is largely unknown. So it is assumed that 80 percent of patients with sleep apnea are still undiagnosed.

Sleep apnea syndrome is caused by nocturnal, repetitive collapse (collapse) of the airways in the throat area. This narrowing causes a strong vibration of the soft tissues, the cause of snoring. If the throat (pharynx) collapses completely, breathing pauses (apneas) occur, which occur up to 600 times a night and can last up to two minutes.

The recurrent oxygen deficiency states lead to subconscious awakening reactions (arousals) of the brain, so that the respiration is immediately reinstated. These numerous subliminal wake-up reactions in the night cause those affected can not sleep restful, but due to the fragmented sleep in the morning are broken, tired, and not well-rested. This tiredness then continues as daytime sleepiness: sleep apnea people tend to nod in monotonous situations. This manifests itself, for example, in microsleep at the wheel – it has been proven that those affected are four to seven times more involved in traffic accidents. The medical consequences of untreated sleep apnea are serious cardiovascular risks, e.g. Hypertension, heart attack, stroke. From an apnea index of 20 (= 20 breaths per hour), life expectancy drops significantly.

Since snoring is a “mechanical” process, this can also be counteracted mechanically, this is where the dental therapy begins. A specially adapted lower jaw protrusion splint is produced, which is then worn only at night. This splint keeps the lower jaw in front, preventing the tongue from sinking, leaving your respiratory tract free to sleep and sleep well!

Advantages of the lower jaw protrusion splint at a glance:

  • The attachment and removal of the rail is easy.
  • You can open your mouth without worrying that you might U. snore.
  • Small, compact, fast and almost invisibly operational everywhere, for example when traveling on trains or planes. (Instead of the usual CPAP device with the face mask)

  • Side sleeping is possible without any problems.
  • Lower jaw is pushed forward a few millimeters, avoiding airway obstruction.
  • Due to the individual and exact adaptation of the pressure point to the own dental system, the habituation phase is usually very short.
  • Likewise, the risk of overloading the dental system and / or the jaw structure is avoided in the long term by the individual adaptation to the own dental system.

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Christina Cherry
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