What is Tooth Grinding
Bruxism, or tooth grinding, is an oral para-functional habit observed in a large number of people occasionally and, in a smaller number, habitually. The mechanism of causation is t...
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Bruxism leading to limited mouth opening?
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Hi
As anyone had any serious/longterm effects from bruxism? I have been grinding/clenching for years- I'm 25 now. 5 years ago when I was at uni & really stressed I would wake up with very sore teeth from clenching so hard. But that was the worst that it ever got. The last few years I thought my stress had decreased compared to what I used to go through but 5 months ago I awoke with sore back molars. I thought nothing of it, & then that evening my mouth wouldn't open past 2cms. I happened just so suddenly!!! It has now been 5 months & my mouth has not opened past around 2cms. I have had an MRI which suggested that there is no disc displacement, however specialist was very surprised because he thought that such an acute lock would be due to anterior displacement of the jaw disc. Now he thinks that its muscle tension from my bruxism that has caused my lock. Has anyone not been able to open their mouth properly like me? I have no actual pain- just tightness in my jaw/face which severely restricts the movement. The dr has also pressed the muscles at the back of my mouth inside & its very tight & hurts when pressed? Is there anything that can be done to help me open my mouth properly again? Posted on 06/13/09, 05:06 am |
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Hi Lyn55,
As I posted in the thread above this, I recommend checking out mouth guards from this company called TotalGard. They help eliminate the pain you are speaking of. Please send me a message if you have any questions. Thanks, CJ 
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Yes, this has happened to me...twice. I could barely open my mouth, I couldn't eat, talk, etc. I was referred to dentist that specializes in this kind of thing, and I was fitted with a special occlusal splint that I would wear for 23 hours a day. My insurance covered it, but it cost roughly $1500 plus maintenance fees ($250/session). You wear the splint all day and night to train your back teeth to not touch each other so you decrease or altogether stop your clenching during your waking hours. I stopped going to the specialist when I could open my mouth wide again. I just was't happy with the bill!!!
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By the way, the splint I wear is so thin it's almost like Invisalign braces. It's barely noticeable.
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Hi LL15
How long did your mouth not open for? Was it ongoing? How long did it take for your mouth to start functioning normally again? My mouth has not opened normally for 6 months now- it opens between 17 cms -27cm depending on the day.
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My left jaw was so sore, and it kept clicking. i couldn't point my lower jaw from side to side. It hurt to open my mouth even just a tad. I went to the specialist after 2-3 weeks coz I couldn't take it anymore. It was either braces or surgery for me. But he made me that appliance that sort of rearranged my teeth and trained my teeth to not clench. I forgot the name of the splint. It was something that I wore 23 hours a day (I wouldn't eat with it).
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Was it your joints that were displaced or was it purely a muscular problem that was stopping your mouth from opening?
Are you better now or do you still wear the splint?
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