When a patient complains of jaw pain, headaches, tooth pain or stiff jaw, one potential cause is bruxism -- more commonly known as teeth grinding. Since many patients grind their teeth unconsciously in their sleep, it behooves the dentist to carefully monitor the condition of a patient’s teeth, supporting tissues, TM joints, and mastication muscles to determine whether bruxism is the reason for your patient’s complaints.

Should you discover evidence of bruxism, it’s time to start considering solutions. In some cases, a custom dental splint can help. While a splint won’t stop the episodes of bruxism, it can distribute the considerable grinding pressure among the teeth, helping to reduce specific damage and alleviate jaw pain. Another option? Fabricate a custom mouth guard to protect the patient’s teeth.

Comprised of quality labs all across the globe, SML (Space Maintainers Laboratories) can create a custom dental splint or mouth guard that will bring relief to your bruxing patients. Call us!