Bruxism Treatment and Mouthguard | The Sci System
The bespoke mouth guard that works to eliminate common symptoms associated with bruxismÂ
What is Bruxism?
Bruxism is a condition that sees you clenching, grinding or chattering your teeth – most commonly during sleep. The condition is often related to stress and anxiety, with many people experiencing sore or tight jaws.
Bruxism will affect over 80% of the population during their life, yet, it is often overlooked and undiagnosed. Although bruxism may not cause any serious issues for some people, there are others who experience painful and persistent side effects, which include headaches, jaw pain, migraines and more.
Sleep Clench Inhibitor (SCi & SCi+)
One of the most successful treatment options for bruxism is the Sleep Clench Inhibitor (SCi & SCi+).
This bespoke mouth guard system works to eliminate common symptoms associated with bruxism. Jaw, mouth, ear and head pain is relieved by this FDA approved system.
How Does the Sleep Clench Inhibitor Work?
The SCi is essentially a bruxism mouth guard that reduces the intensity of the pressure applied to your teeth and jawbone when you clench your teeth. It acts as a soft, mouth guard hybrid, protecting your teeth and reducing the contact between your posterior and canine teeth. Clark GT et. al conducted a study where tension-type headache patients (without signs or symptoms of temporomandibular disorder) clenched their teeth during their sleep 14 times more (average) intensely than asymptomatic controls.
The Benefits of the SCi Mouth Guard System
The SCi offers a solution to those suffering with bruxism and sleep-related teeth grinding issues. The major benefits include:
- Reduces jaw pain and headaches (in some patients)
- Reduces teeth grinding during sleep
- Procedure is extremely fast (mouth guard fabrication in just 20 minutes)
- Scientifically proven efficacy
- Excellent patient acceptance and compliance
Questions to Ask Our Team
You may have a few questions surrounding bruxism and the treatment process. Here are a some things you may want to ask when you visit our clinic.
- What is causing my symptoms?
- Is my condition temporary or long-term?
- Is there a ‘best’ treatment?
- Should I see a specialist?
- Is there a daytime bruxism guard?
- What are the causes of bruxism in a child?
Similarly, be prepared to answer any questions your doctor or dentist asks you. Common questions may include:
- When and for how long have you been experiencing these symptoms?
- Are your symptoms continuous? Or do they come and go?
- Does (if anything) anything improve your symptoms
- What worsens your symptoms (stress, anxiety etc)?
Fitting Your SCi Mouthguard
The SCi is designed to be made chairside and takes just 20 minutes to fabricate the mouth guard. The process is swift and effective, with the fitting process taking 10-15 minutes. Once the appliance is fitted, you should test to see if its stable by moving it with your tongue. If it can be shifted or moved easily, readjustment may be required.
We have included a short step-by-step video detailing the simple process of fitting your SCi mouth guard above.
What to Expect During Your Visit: The Bruxism Process
During your dental checkup, your dentist will be able to tell if any bruxism signs or symptoms are present. If there are notable symptoms (such as teeth grinding) we may book you in for monthly appointments to monitor your development. If your symptoms continue, then it’s likely that you will require treatment.
If your dentist believes you may have early bruxism symptoms, they will likely check for:
- Pain or tenderness in your jaw muscles
- Broken or missing teeth
- Teeth grinding symptoms (X-rays will help identify any underlying jawbone issues)
If your dentist identifies these early symptoms, or you are already suffering from these symptoms, a dental examination may be required.
This examination may also highlight similar disorders that may cause discomfort in the future, such as ear and jaw pain and headaches.
Bruxism in Relation to Stress and AnxietyÂ
Bruxism is often closely linked with sleeping issues and anxiety. If you are suffering with anxiety and/or stress, your teeth grinding may be a product of this.
There are a number of ways to help you get a good night’s sleep and reduce the effects of bruxism and teeth grinding:
- Deep breathing
- Reading
- Listening to music
It may be that the best treatment for bruxism is simply to identify what is causing you stress or anxiety and working on ways to tackle this.
You can also opt for treatments such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) if the above does not help.
Bruxism Symptoms and Treatment
Bruxism pain symptoms are relatively easy to identify. Clenching of the jaw and teeth grinding are the most obvious symptoms, which is followed by an aching jawbone, headaches and sometimes morning migraines.
In some cases, treatment may not be necessary, especially with children, as they usually grow out of it. However, sometimes bruxism problems are severe and there are various treatments to help prevent further tooth damage and alleviate oral discomfort.
One of the most popular bruxism treatments are mouth guards that help to soften the pressure applied to jawbone and teeth during your sleep. Hove Dental offers a custom mouth guard for bruxism problems in the form of the Sleep Clench Inhibitor (SCi).
Is there a Bruxism Cure?
Bruxism can be treated in a few different ways, but one of the most effective treatment options are mouth guards. With bruxism, prevention is far better than a cure, having regular dental checkups will help you keep on top of any underlying symptoms that may cause issues in the future.
If you currently suffer with misaligned, cracked, crooked or missing teeth, you should arrange to see your local dentist. Leaving these problems may lead to a poorly-developed bite, bad breath and other oral-related issues.
Understanding Teeth Grinding
Teeth Grinding in the Day
Grinding your teeth in the day (or when you’re awake) is arguably easier to track and rectify than when sleeping. If you are conscious of your teeth grinding, you may find it useful to keep track of how many times you grind your teeth each day. Finding out what scenarios cause you to grind your teeth will help you identify treatments and ways to counteract these situations. You may find that you grind your teeth more when you’re stressed or anxious.
The more aware you become of your teeth grinding habit, the easier the habit will be to break. Relaxing your jaw when you feeling yourself clenching will help you slowly break the habit. If these techniques aren’t as effective as you’d like, you can always consult your GP.
You may also be a candidate for the SCi mouth guard system detailed above.
Teeth Grinding at Night
Teeth grinding at night time (sleep bruxism) is very common and fortunately, we’re able to help. As mentioned previously, grinding your teeth at night is usually associated with stress and anxiety and can be relieved using bruxism appliances (night guards) such as the SCi. Bruxism and snoring are also closely related and could hint at sleep apnea – a common sleeping disorder that narrows the walls of your throat, interrupting normal sleeping and causing you to snore.Â
As always, our friendly team members are on-hand to offer information on bruxism and will happily arrange a consultation if you’re interested in pursuing treatment.
Book Your Consultation TodayÂ
If you are displaying symptoms of bruxism and itâs causing you discomfort, itâs advised you arrange a consultation with our team. Our friendly and experienced staff will be able to swiftly assess your oral health and provide a solution to your bruxism issues.
Call, email or visit us at our clinic in Hove.Â
Book an Appointment Today
To book an appointment at your local dentist in Hove you can submit your details via the contact form, send us a direct email or phone us.
We endeavour to get back to you as soon as possible.
