What's New...
Hi everyone!... GREETINGS! Hope everyone came through the ice storms in January and February OK! We were closed for 1½ days, but fortunately no power outage ..... Congratulations to Diane's son, Michael, the Air Force F-16 pilot. He chaulked up another honor f or outstanding graduate of Weapons School. I'm glad he is up there protecting us and our country! ...Tammy's daughter, Lexi, made National Honors Society as a Junior at Milford High School, which is a rare accomplishment!... Dr. MacKnight's son, Eric, is getting married to Tara Ruttencutter in March! Eric is an electrical engineer and Tara is a nurse at Children's hospital. |
DO YOU NEED A NIGHTGUARD?
Night time tooth grinding and clenching habits are becoming more and more common in our stressful lives! Do you clench your teeth or grind them back and forth during sleep or even in the daytime? Does your partner complain of loud gritty noises eman ating from your mouth while you sleep? Do you wake up with "tired" or sore jaw muscles or just have tense jaw muscles all day long or after chewing tough food? Well, you are not alone! Almost 70% of the population at some point in their lives clench or grind their teeth. This is known as "bruxism" and can be very destructive to the teeth and gums, as well as your jaw joint.
Night grinding can be either noisy or silent. It is like snoring in that since most people grind while they are asleep, they are not aware they are doing it. These bruxing habits can wear down the edges and chewing surfaces of teeth, leading to loss of the vertical chin/nose dimension of the face. This can eventually result in an ageing, sunken face appearance, as well as TMJ jaw pain and difficulty chewing. Tooth grinding and clenching can also weaken and loosen teeth. Continual clenching flexes the teeth back and forth and can cause the thin gum line protective enamel to crack and flake off, exposing the softer underlying dentin. Exposed root dentin can be very sensitive to brushing, cold and touch, resulting in tooth sensitivity. The soft dentin will also 20wear from abrasive particles in toothpaste, resulting in a gum line notch called an abfraction notch. These notches not only get deeper and weaken the tooth, but retain food and plaque and can eventually cause gum line decay. It is important that we fill in these notches with a white, tooth colored filling before they get too deep and cause more irreversible damage. Clenching can also cause the gums to recede, sometimes requiring gum surgery to correct. Continued bruxing may lead to jaw muscle or jaw joint pain and damage, known as TMD and TMJ, respectfully. This may require more advanced and involved treatment. Tooth clenching also may put cracks in teeth or fracture tooth cusps, requiring a crown on the tooth to successfully save it.
How do we treat tooth clenching and grinding? Typically a night guard is made from a mold of your teeth in our dental lab. It is a thin flexible rubbery plastic material that is custom fit to just the edges of the upper teeth, forming a cushion between the upper and lower teeth which allows the muscles to stretch and relax. It also absorbs clenching forces. Night guards are usually easy to wear and get used to and they should be worn every night, not just occasionally. For people who gag easily or think they might have trouble getting used to a night guard, we have a small one that fits on the upper and lower front four teeth, called an NTI night guard. For those people who snore or have sleep apnea and cannot wear a CPAP mask, we can make a "Snore Guard". Please ask Dr. MacKnight about these treatments if you think you might have one of these nocturnal or daytime habits.
DENTAL TIPS FOR DIABETICS
Recent research is directly linking gum disease as a risk factor for diabetes. What this means is if you have diabetes, or family history of diabetes, it is critical that you avoid developing gum disease (periodontal disease) because it can aggravate any existing diabetic condition and make it worse. Bacteria thrive in a diabetic's mouth when glucose levels are high and these high bacteria=2 0levels, along with the patient's reduced ability to resist infection can result in a high risk for gum disease. We recommend brushing twice a day, and flossing once a day at bedtime. Diabetics should have regular cleanings and checkups at least every six months, and every 3 to 4 months if any gum disease is present. Eat a meal or a substantial snack before you come in for your dental appointment to ensure a good blood sugar level and bring a snack with you in case your blood sugar drops. Tell Dr. MacKnight about changes in your medication or condition. |
