Jaw bone treatment (CMD) – so that pain when chewing, in the neck and head area, dizziness and in some cases tinnitus disappear for good.
Bruxism
70 to 80 percent of the population grind and clench their teeth subconsciously during the day and at night. If the chewing muscles, mandibular joint and bite do not harmonize optimally, it causes these complaints and functional disorders. However, often the complaints occur not only at the site of the disorder, but also in other parts of the body: many patients complain about back and neck pain, tension, migraine or even develop dizziness syndromes and tinnitus (ringing in the ears). As specialized dental practitioners, we can provide the necessary targeted treatment of the functional problems in the jaw. We cooperate with experts from orthopedics, osteopathy, Feldenkrais and physiotherapy, for an optimal treatment result.
Stress as a cause of bruxism
If a person is stressed, the body seeks a way to break the stress down and release it. Exercise helps. However, in recent years it has become ever more apparent that many people process daytime stress at night by grinding and clenching their teeth. Studies have shown that grinding helps people to relieve stress on a subconscious level, but at the expense of their teeth. In many cases, those affected do not notice this damaging habit for a long time. In the end, they themselves do not hear how their teeth grind together during the night. However, those who often wake up exhausted in the morning and have the feeling at the breakfast table that their jaw is clicking and that their neck hurts should seek advice from a dentist knowledgeable about so-called craniomandibular dysfunction (CMD).
Effects on teeth, masticatory apparatus and muscles
When grinding one’s teeth, enormous forces act on the teeth and masticatory apparatus – up to 500 kg/cm2. After all, the jaw muscle is the strongest muscle in the whole body! Those who grind their teeth at night can do enormous damage to their teeth and the whole masticatory apparatus. The consequence can be bitten-out crowns and worn teeth. The position of the teeth and of the mandibular joint alter unfavorably. In many cases, grinding teeth also makes the teeth over-sensitive to cold and heat, because the protective enamel is worn down. If, on top of this, the teeth are misaligned or there are faulty tooth constructions, the whole system is greatly destabilized. The support structure – in other words the gingiva and jaw – tries to compensate for this strain, which is why teeth grinding often causes tension and pain in quite different parts of the body: in the back, neck or head area.
Diagnosis and treatment
The problem is complex and only a comprehensive diagnosis – a so-called function analysis – can describe and analyze the muscular and joint-specific disorders. As part of the diagnosis, the patient’s muscles are examined just as carefully as the grinding behavior and the mandibular joint movements are represented exactly in a three-dimensional analysis. Here we also work with experts from other disciplines. Together with orthopedists, osteopaths and physiotherapists, as a network, we develop the best treatment for you. Possible dental treatments can include e.g. a targeted splint therapy, adjusting the bite, tooth reconstruction or orthodontic measures.
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