There are many reasons or causes for teeth to
fracture. Typically, most people think teeth fracture because of chewing on
something too hard or hitting an object you didn't know was there. I have been
practicing dentistry for over 40 years and I'm seeing more and more tooth
fractures. Many times people will tell me that they were chewing on bread or
mashed potatoes and the tooth fragment came out. Actually what has happened is the
tooth was fractured from something previous, and the soft food removes the
tooth fragments.
My experience has been that the vast majorities of
people clench or grind their teeth, but many don’t realize that they do. Clenching
or grinding mostly occurs at night but sometimes occurs during the day under
extreme stress. These forces can be extreme, and when combined with a tooth
that is heavily filled, it is not uncommon to see a tooth fracture.
Lately I have
seen a lot of teeth that are what we call virgin -- no decay or filling -- and
yet there is a fracture. In most cases it is a corner or wall of the tooth that
fractures above the gum line, sometimes the fracture extends below the gum line
going down into the root. When this occurs there is no option but to remove the
tooth. Removing and restoring teeth can help prevent the fractures; also
replacing large fillings with a crown which covers the outside can help prevent
the fractures above the gum line. If enough force is produced, even with an
excellent fitting crown, fracture down into the root is possible.
I have found the best way to prevent some of these
fractures is to wear a device -- a protective guard that helps prevent the
teeth from coming together with extreme force. While there are many devices
available over-the-counter and from your dentist, most of them are just plastic
worn between the teeth that don't do anything to stop the extreme muscle
activity, and that is the problem.
The professional devices can cost $500 - $700 or
more. While over-the-counter devices are much less expensive, they are also
inadequate and they wear out easily, and do nothing to stop the activity that
causes the problem.
Recently a new device has come to market called
GrindReliefN. It is available online and at select retail locations for a
reasonable cost. This device is smaller, covering only the front 6 to 8 teeth
and can be worn on the upper or lower front teeth. It has a central bar which,
when the patient bites down, it directs the most force between the upper and
lower front teeth at the mid-line. This creates a nerve stimulus that stops the
muscle clenching, reducing it by 60% or more.
The GrindReliefN is the only over-the-counter device
that meets or exceeds the performance of the professional appliances at a
fraction of the cost. Over my 40 years of practicing dentistry I have made many
devices for the treatment of clenching and grinding. By a wide margin, the GrindReliefN
is the most effective, wearable and successful device I have ever made.
A simple pencil test can demonstrate how the device
works. If you take a pencil and put it between your back teeth and bite down,
you can generate a tremendous amount of force. However, if you take the same
pencil, put it between your upper and lower front teeth at the mid-line and
bite down, you'll see you cannot come near generating the same amount of force.
The device is intended to be worn at night but, under extreme stress, it can be
helpful during the day also. If you want to avoid tooth fractures and the pain
and cost associated with them, GrindReliefN is the solution.
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