Tooth
fracture is not an uncommon problem. Most people attribute it to eating -
biting down, hitting something hard and fracturing a tooth. While this can
occur, there's a much bigger problem which I have seen widely. It can occur
during the night or during the day even while not chewing. The vast-majority of
people clench or grind their teeth even though they don't know it. These forces
can be extreme and can cause fracture on the tooth that has no decay and even
no filling.
I have been practicing dentistry since
1973 and have seen this problem but nothing on the scope I've seen lately.
Higher stress levels seem to cause people to clench and grind their teeth with
greater intensity and frequency. Sometimes the fracture is above the gum line
and a wall or corner of the tooth breaks. However; sometimes the fracture goes
below the gum line down into the root. In this case there is no alternative but
to remove the tooth.
Sometimes large fillings can predispose
to fracture above the gum line. This can be prevented by restoring the tooth
with a crown which protects it from the outside. However, root fractures are
another concern and even a crown cannot prevent them. Of course not all
fractures can be prevented, but there is something you can do to help lessen
the possibility of fractures.
Wearing a guard or device that helps
prevent the teeth from coming together with extreme force can be a big help.
This is particularly useful at night when a patient is unaware that they are
grinding their teeth. Over the years I have also been the patient suffering
from problems related to clenching and grinding. Although I never fractured a
tooth, I have many other problems relating to this phenomenon. There are many
devices available to treat this problem -- horseshoe devices, posterior pads,
etc. The scope of the problem and the devices available caused me to create a
new device which I think is superior to anything else. Virtually all the other
devices for this problem are simply plastic between the teeth -- they do
nothing to treat the problem at its source- the muscles. My product,
GrindReliefN, is smaller, covering only the first 6 to 8 anterior teeth and can
be worn on the upper or lower teeth. Unlike all other devices, it has a central
bar which causes the most force to be at the upper and lower mid-line at the
same time. This creates a nerve stimulus somewhat of a biofeedback that affects
the muscles causing them to contract with 60% or more reduction in bite force.
You can simulate this force by taking a pencil, putting it between your back
teeth and biting down, then with the same pencil between your upper and lower
front teeth at the mid-line, bite and you simply can't bite with as much force.
This device is not just plastic between your teeth, it has science behind it
and is the best way to treat the problem at its source -- the muscles. It has a
three-year wear guarantee and performs as well or better than expensive
professional devices at a fraction of the cost.
More
information can be found at GrindReliefN.com.