Are your teeth showing signs of wear?
Do you feel like you’re clenching your teeth at night?
Have you ever been told you that you grind your teeth at night?
Do you wake up in the morning feeling like you’ve chewed a whole pack of gum?
These are signs that you may need an occlusal plate.
You may be suffering from bruxism, which is an unconscious parafunctional behaviour made by the masticatory apparatus when you’re not eating.
What is an occlusal plate?
An occlusal plate is a custom-made acrylic device. It fits over your teeth and is worn at night to protect them against involuntary and excessive clenching or grinding. The occlusal plate also helps relieve pressure on the temporomandibular joint. It does not solve bruxism or teeth clenching, but it can counter their consequences.
Bruxism and teeth clenching are very often involuntary reactions caused by stress. They can happen both during the day and at night.
Tooth wear can also be caused by malocclusion, bad habits such as onychophagia or pencil chewing, or using your teeth for anything other than eating.
Premature tooth wear can sometimes cause dentinal sensitivity. As the tooth wears down, the electrical signal is more easily transmitted to the tooth nerve, which leads to greater sensitivity.
Teeth clenching and bruxism can also cause dental fractures, as the teeth are under greater strain than they should be. They can therefore become more brittle and fracture.
Bruxism can also result in excessive wear of the front teeth and a change in aesthetics, with the teeth becoming shorter.
An occlusal plate can therefore help protect the teeth against these consequences.
Don’t hesitate to make an appointment with Soie Clinique Dentaire if you believe you may need an occlusal plate.
We’ll be happy to evaluate all of this during a comprehensive examination.
(450) 969-6970
2190 Lapinière, Brossard
(514) 271-0007 1025 Wellington, Montreal
