Teeth Grinding help

carolannie

I do this often. I wake myself up sometimes. Other times, I dream my teeth are broken and wake up with a headache and pain n my face.

Where do I go to for help? The dentist or my GP?

I have severe anxiety and take medicine for this, but it makes no difference. I still do it.

Thanks for any replies!

Mrs_Arcanum

Would have a chat with your dentist or look for a guard to wear at night to help prevent this (they seem to vary in price from around a fiver to over seventy quid).

mandragora_2

The dentists. They'll make you a guard you can wear at night. It's not ideal, but it's better than wearing your teeth away, and having the muscle pain. Then it's time to look at the underlying causes, any GP will tell you!

carolannie

Thank you.
Can you get them on the NHS? I can afford a fiver, but not £70 (at the moment)

Mrs_Arcanum

carolannie wrote: »

Thank you.
Can you get them on the NHS? I can afford a fiver, but not £70 (at the moment)

Have a look on-line - this is where I got prices from. Though your dentist should be able to suggest the best thing for you as this will be preventing future tooth problems.

carolannie

Thank you. I'll have to find a dentist.

Toothsmith

carolannie wrote: »

Thank you.
Can you get them on the NHS? I can afford a fiver, but not £70 (at the moment)

I don't know of any dentist who will do one for a fiver. We would pay a technician anythng from £35 for a simple soft bite guard to £150 for something more complex.

You can get one on the NHS - but if you pay NHS fees this is likely to cost you the Band 3 charge of £204 (As it's an item that requires a technician to make it).

Chances are, your dentist would do it privately for you for a lot less than this though.

Dentists who really 'get into' occlusion and jaw problems tend not to like the simple soft night bite guards, but I find for mild/moderate cases where mild wear or sensitivity are the patient's main problem, a soft guard can really help.

If the symptoms are more severe though. Muscle pain, shooting pains around the jaw and face (and neck and shoulders - even back), limited jaw opening, sore jaw joint, locking jaw, (sometimes migraines) - then a more complex one will do you more good.

Whatever you do, don't be tempted to just use a ready-made or 'boil in the bag' thing that you can get on line. If you're lucky, it will make no difference whatsoever. If you're unlucky it will make things a lot worse.

In most cases, the wearing of a proper night guard will be enough to deal with the problem.

mrputney08

You'd be suprised how many people have them!

I have one for teeth grinding. If you go to your dentist a mould will be taken and sent away for one to be custom made for you, this will fit your teeth exactly and protect them from diminishing in size any more, mine cost about £80 but well worth it to spend that little bit extra on yourself and get it fitted correctly. Mine was made last year, I estimate it'll last a few years yet. I lost the 1st one, goodness knows how, but I tend to wake up and find I've taken them out in my slumber and lost them under the bed!

You think you'll never get used to them at 1st but you will. Oh, and if you can ask for one that fits on the lower teeth, I've found this is more comfy than an upper teeth fitment.

I had to go back and get a wee bit trimmed off as it was rubbing in one place on my gum, so don't be afraid to go back if there are any bits of it that you feel are getting in the way of your comfort, the dentisit will skim these off no probs. All the best!

mda99das

As a general rule if an NHS pt needs a bite raising appliance then I WILL charge them the correct NHS fee.

The same with molar endo...yes I do molar RCT on the NHS for 3 UDAs and spend about 2hrs doing it.

brook2jack

The thing that is causing your grinding is your severe anxiety. Though an appliance may help with damage and pain it wont stop the grinding. If medication doesnt help perhaps you should investigate talking therapies via your gp. If you are on benefits an appliance will cost nothing from the dentist. Never buy gumshields over the internet they are not for grinding and easily make things alot worse. You will be wasting money .

brook2jack

Ps to find a dentist in your area ask friends and family for recommendations or failing that look on pct or nhs website and ring around. Grinding can cause terrible damage and best get it sorted now.