TOOTH FRACTURE

      

        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.

Stress and Its Affects on The Body

         The human species has experienced stress for thousands of years, however; today more than any other time, problems whether down the street or across the world are in our faces all the time, due to news outlets Internet social media etc., there is no escaping increasing problems in this troubled world. Of Course in the past we've always had troubles but they are more evident to all of us now than at any time in our history.

          How does stress cause physical problems? We all know that stress can cause anxiety, depression and many other maladies. Some people are aware that stress can cause headaches though it's just a stress headache. But how can stress cause a headache? Over 30 years ago I became aware of the connection between clenching and grinding of teeth and headaches. I began to get migraine headaches, sometimes they would last for two or three days. My teeth did not bother me I had no jaw soreness; I simply had shoulder neck pain and frequent headaches. It was so bad that I went to the hospital and had an MRI taken. They could find no reason for my headaches.

       Finally at one point I had some joint pain on my left side. I made a professional device or splint that covers all my lower teeth, and to my surprise not only did my jaw pain subside but my headaches went away. As a dentist I took many courses on the subject but there's nothing like feeling the pain yourself to realize how real it is. This caused me to take many more courses on the subject. Over the years it has been a great challenge to treat my many patients who also suffer from this problem. As I searched for the ideal device to treat this problem, I became aware of a product called the NTI. This device is much smaller than any other device to treat the problem covering only a few front teeth. It has a central bar which elevates above the device -contacting the opposite front teeth at the mid-line. Studies show this contact can actually reduce muscle activity by at least 60%, treating the problem at its source the muscles. Studies also show that in a group study this device was able to treat 80% or more of migraine sufferers with success. However; this device can only be made by the dentist and costs hundreds of dollars.

       Several years ago I began working on a device which could be made by the patient at home. The device uses the mechanism of action of the NTI that actually improves by creating pressure on the upper and lower mid-lines at the same time. After much work with patents, FDA approvals and design changes the device is finally ready for the retail market. Sold online for over three years and now at most of the major retail.com outlets, it is having fantastic success. Not only is this the most effective and durable device I have ever seen, it is also very affordable.

      But now back to the beginning, how can stress cause physical pain and problems. Back in biblical times when troubles were noted it was described as wailing and gnashing of teeth. What does this mean? I believe they were clenching and grinding their teeth. OK fine, but how does this cause other problems? There's another problem which I experienced and I describe it as a musculoskeletal balancing reflex. Once after injuring my back, I found that within a few hours the pain and muscle spasms had traveled to my abdomen. The same thing happens when the jaw muscles contract through clenching or grinding, muscles in the shoulder and neck contract in a balancing mechanism. When this muscle spasm is strong enough, it can actually travel up to the base of the skull and you can get headaches. Over the years I've treated thousands of patients who suffer from headaches, shoulder, neck pain and other pains related to clenching and grinding. By far the most effective and wearable device I've ever used for my patients and myself is GrindReliefN.

More information can be found at GrindReliefN.com.

Shortening, Thinning and Chipping of Front Teeth Causes

    As time goes on, many people will notice a shortening of their front upper and lower teeth. Usually it takes them at least until their 30’s or 40’s before this deterioration is noticed, and before they find out why this occurs. For most people the lower front teeth sit back slightly from the upper front teeth. However; if they push the lower front teeth forward, you'll see that the teeth meet exactly like a lock and key. This is because they have been ground this way. The vast majority of people grind their teeth usually more at night than during the day. Although most people do grind their teeth and are unaware of it they are also unaware that during the grinding motion they will thrust the lower jaw forward causing the upper and lower front teeth to come in to contact and wear.

      I have been practicing dentistry since 1973 and I've seen this problem occur with many people. As this problem becomes more severe you'll notice that when these people smile you don't see their teeth, that's because there's barely any teeth to see in some cases. Some of these cases can be helped with a few fillings or a few crowns. However; when the situation becomes extreme, sometimes a full mouth reconstruction is necessary, and this can cost upwards of 40 to 60 thousand dollars and is not an easy process.

    Many people think damage to their teeth occurs only when they are showing, which is a very small percentage of the day. Actually a lot more damage occurs when people are not showing the clenching and grinding of their teeth, which many are aware causes severe damage from shortening of the Front teeth to many other problems. So how can this problem be prevented? The sooner the problem is identified, hopefully in the patient’s 20’s, or early 30’s and a device is used to help protect against the clenching and grinding, the more this problem will be prevented.

    Until recently it was necessary to go to the dentist and pay hundreds of dollars for a device that would fit properly and help with this problem. Over-the-counter devices simply were ineffective and also did not last very long at all. Now a revolutionary new device has come to the retail market called GrindReliefN. Virtually unlike any other device, it has a central bar which causes the main force of biting to come between the upper and lower front teeth. The central force creates a nerve reflex affect, causing the muscles to contract with 60% less force. Although the patient may slide their jaw forward in the grinding motion, they will now slide it onto the central bar protecting the teeth and preventing damage and wear. It covers only the front 6 to 8 teeth, and the back teeth are kept out of contact.

      While some people have trouble wearing anything in their mouth to protect against clenching and grinding, this device has been the most accepted, the most effective and the most durable, with a three-year wear guarantee. Also, since it is a small fraction of the cost of a professional appliance, it is now available to virtually anyone. More can be seen on this product at GrindReliefN.com.