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Dental patients of all ages can suffer from teeth grinding or Bruxism. Dentists have used many different oral appliances to help relieve the jaw pain and muscular discomfort that plagues many patients with Bruxism. Although bite plates work for most patients, it can be a challenge for dentists to explain the problem to patients and gain an understanding of the appropriate treatments.
Dentists that use the new technology of diagnostic bite plates or a jaw splint for jaw pain have the advantage of clinical reporting to help them with diagnosis and treatment planning. Patients can use jaw splints in the short term to collect evidence of biting patterns and clenching of teeth.
Although there is no cure for Bruxism, there are solutions available to patients to help gum tissue healing and relieve clenching pain. Let’s look at a few ways that oral appliances assist dentists in providing better treatment options for their patients.
Clear Diagnosis
The signs of grinding or clenching may be visible on the surface of the teeth in a patient. However, this physical evidence is only one part of the story. The force of clenching and the precise measurements of ground areas can be tough to determine. With the right tools, dentists can pinpoint these issues and conclude a more accurate diagnosis.
Oral appliances like the Quicksplint bite plate can help collect real-time evidence of Bruxism and allow dentists to make a clearer diagnosis. The patterns of grinding and clenching will show up on the appliance itself, making it easier to diagnose the problem area and share findings with patients.
Treatment Planning
From mouthguards to dental plates, there are a variety of treatment plans for teeth grinding and Bruxism. Not every patient is the same and may require different levels of treatment. When a temporary oral appliance is used, specific jaw muscles and erosion area measurements can be obtained.
The detailed information collected with an oral appliance for jaw plate can help dentists make a clearer treatment plan. Diagnostic plates can be worn for only a short time to gather evidence, and then a more permanent or long-term treatment plan can be developed.
Patient Confidence
Most patients that suffer from jaw pain from grinding or Bruxism are entirely unaware of the problem. During sleep, patients often grind without knowing that they are causing any damage or have any jaw movement at all. For dentists, explaining the damage and erosion caused by grinding can be frustrating if the patient lacks understanding.
When a dental plate is used to collect visible evidence of a grinding problem or Bruxism, it can make it easier for dentists to communicate the problem to patients. Patient understanding can improve the overall results of a treatment plan.
Choosing the proper treatment for dental patients suffering from jaw pain associated with Bruxism or teeth grinding can be made easier using the right oral appliance. Designed to collect and display visual signs of erosion, muscle activity, and gum damage, a temporary oral jaw plate can help dentists and patients choose the right treatment plan.
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