Jaw Clenching & Grinding (Bruxism) Treatment Mermaid Waters

Bruxism is the clinical name for clenching the jaw or grinding the teeth, usually without meaning to. It commonly happens during sleep, which is why many people only find out about it when a partner mentions the noise or a dentist notices the wear pattern on their teeth.

Signs of Jaw Clenching and Grinding

Symptoms vary, but the ones people most often describe are:

aching or tight jaw muscles, particularly on waking
headaches around the temples in the morning
teeth that are becoming flattened, chipped or worn at the edges
increased tooth sensitivity, or fillings and crowns that fail more often than expected
clicking, locking or discomfort in the jaw joint
disrupted sleep, for you or the person next to you

The causes are usually multifactorial. Stress, sleep disturbance including sleep-disordered breathing, certain medications and the way the teeth meet can all contribute, and often more than one factor is involved.

How Bruxism Is Assessed

Assessment begins with an examination. Your dentist will look at the pattern and extent of tooth wear, check your bite and jaw joints, palpate the jaw muscles and ask about your sleep, stress and medical history. X-rays or photographs may be taken so that wear can be measured over time. That assessment is what determines which management options may be suitable for you — there is no single treatment that fits everyone.

Management Options We May Discuss

Depending on what the examination shows, the options your dentist may discuss include:

Occlusal splints (night guards). A custom-made appliance worn during sleep that separates the teeth and absorbs the forces of grinding. It does not stop the habit, but it can help protect the tooth surfaces from further wear. These are made in a similar way to our custom-made sports mouthguards.
Habit and lifestyle strategies. Stress management, sleep routine, reducing caffeine and alcohol in the evening, jaw relaxation exercises, and referral to your GP where sleep-disordered breathing is suspected.
Restoring worn or damaged teeth. Where teeth have already been worn down, chipped or cracked, treatment such as bonding or a crown may be considered. These procedures involve permanently altering tooth structure and carry their own risks, which your dentist will explain.
Prescription-only injectable treatment to relax the jaw muscles. Where it is clinically appropriate, this may form part of a management plan. Because treatments of this kind are prescription-only medicines, Australian law does not permit them to be named or advertised to the public, so we cannot describe the medicine here.

Whether any injectable option is suitable for you can only be determined at a consultation. Your dentist will explain the treatment, its expected effects and how long they typically last, the costs, and the risks and possible side effects, so that you can make an informed decision.

Risks

All treatment carries risks, and these vary between individuals. Splints may cause temporary bite changes, jaw discomfort or salivation while you adjust to them. Injectable treatments carry risks and possible side effects including bruising, swelling, temporary weakness of nearby muscles and changes in chewing. Restorative work involves irreversible removal of tooth structure. None of these options cures bruxism, and results differ from person to person. Your dentist will discuss the risks that apply to you in full before you decide whether to proceed.

Bruxism Care at Helix Dental

Our dentists at Helix Dental in Mermaid Waters assess jaw clenching and grinding as part of a routine general dental examination, and will talk through the management options that may suit your situation, along with their costs and risks.

If you are waking with a sore jaw or headaches, or you have been told you grind your teeth, an assessment is the place to start. You can reach us on 07 5572 8969 or at hello@helixdental.com.au.

General information only. This page provides general information about dental treatment and is not a substitute for individual clinical advice. Whether any treatment is suitable for you can only be determined by a dentist after an examination. Results and recovery vary from person to person and are not guaranteed.

Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

It is usually multifactorial. Stress, sleep disturbance including sleep-disordered breathing, some medications and the way the teeth meet can all play a part, and more than one factor is often involved. Your dentist will take a history and examine you to work out what is likely contributing in your case.

Common signs are a tight or aching jaw on waking, morning headaches around the temples, teeth that look flattened or chipped, increased sensitivity, restorations that fail more often than expected, and a partner noticing the noise at night.

An occlusal splint, sometimes called a night guard, is a custom-made appliance worn during sleep that separates the teeth and absorbs grinding forces. It does not stop the habit itself, but it can help protect the tooth surfaces from further wear. It is made from impressions or a digital scan of your teeth.

Over time, grinding can wear down the biting surfaces, chip edges, cause cracks, increase sensitivity and shorten the life of fillings and crowns. Having it assessed early means wear can be monitored and management options discussed before more extensive treatment is needed.