Pandemic Stress: Bruxism

The WHO (World Health Organization) declared the COVID-19 outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 30 January 2020, and a pandemic on 11 March 2020. A lot changed in a blink of an eye. Firstly, we were obligated to insolation, work for home (for those who were lucky to keep their jobs). However, many weren’t that lucky and lost their steady income. Meanwhile we were on the lockdown our daily routine changed, directly impacting in our mental health. As a result, many of us developed what has been called Pandemic Stress. So, as we know, stress can be manifested in many ways, one of them bruxism.

Bruxism Symptoms

Bruxism is the medical term for the chronic teeth grinding action. Accordingly, to the definition, teeth clenching can present some symptoms, such as:

  • Headache
  • Jaw joint pain
  • Worn down teeth
  • Fractured/Cracked teeth

Solutions for TMD

Although, not all treatments will work for the same people, here at Advanced Smiles Dentistry we can give you the diagnosed and treatment plan for your needs. Without delay, this may be one of the solutions for bruxism or TMD.

  • Mouth Guard: night guards made from different materials keep the upper and lower teeth apart, therefore this diminishes the damage caused by teeth grinding.
  • Botox: to reduce the effects of bruxism a botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT-A) injection in the masseter and/or temporalis might be beneficial for some patients.
  • Medication: even though this might be a pain relief, is just a temporary solution to manage the pain at the beginning.
  • Stress reduction techniques: yoga, meditation, exercise, therapy.

Dental treatments for worn-down teeth

There are different dental options to fixed worn-down teeth by bruxism. In this situation, the cosmetic dentists at Advanced Smiles Dentistry will do a full evaluation in order to know what will be the best dental treatment for you based on how worn are your teeth.

 

Our cosmetic dentists in Tijuana can recommend from dental bonding and composite veneers to porcelain veneers and zirconia crowns.