By visual observation alone, bruxism cannot be diagnosed as this is not the sole reason for wearing of the teeth. According to a dentist in Livermore, receding gum lines is one of the signs of teeth grinding, however, it may be caused by some other factors like vigorous brushing, abrasive contents in your tooth paste, or event the acidic beverages you drink such as soft drinks. There is no single cure for bruxism. However, there are a few treatments available in the market to reduce or eliminate its complications.
Mouth Guard
Acrylic dental guard or mouth guard is worn to minimize the abrasion of the surface of your teeth. Your Livermore dentist can easily set you up with one of these. Every dental guard is specifically designed to the contour of the upper and lower teeth of the wearer. This is done by your dentist who will take the impression of your bite mol. The impression will be sent to the dentistry lab for work up.
Nociceptive Trigeminal Inhibitor
The trigeminal is a facial nerve that has both motor and sensory function. Its motor functions allow our facial muscles to chew, bite and swallow. Its sensory function on the other hand conveys sensations from the face to the brain where it is interpreted. Nociceptors are simply pain receptors located on nerve endings. The NTI is used by limiting the contraction of the temporalis muscle. This is done by being fitted on top of the teeth and changes the angle at which the mandible, or the jaw, opens, thus covering the front teeth which prevent the rear molars from coming in contact.
Botox
Botox is a cosmetic procedure where in a highly toxic substance, botulinum toxin, is injected to waken thenerves that will in turn relax the facial muscle. Botox can lessen the effects of bruxism successfully, though there are potentially serious side effects.