Teeth Jaw Clenching Ask The Dentist Questions about Teeth Grinding (Bruxism) in the Dental Health Library

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FAQ: Teeth Grinding

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Teeth Grinding Clenching Corinne Scalzitti

Question:
Severe Nighttime clenching: When I wake up in the morning, my head, neck, jaw, upper shoulder and siuses hurt and I feel like I am in the clouds.

When I first wake up I can feel the pressure in my sinuses just let loose. I wear a dentist made night gard on my upper teeth and it did help for a few years.

Before the night gard I was seeing my medical doctor with sinus problems but he could not figure it out. All the symptoms I had prior to the night gard are back. I have a very powerful suction in my mouth while sleeping.

I have gone to therapy and wear the night gard every night. Where can I go from here? I can't stand this feeling anymore. ...Visitor from PA

Answer:
I would suggest seeing an oral surgeon.

It seems to me that your dentist recognized and treated your grinding and all was well until you had more sinus problems.

The maxillary sinus is below your eyes and over your top teeth. Every time you have a sinus flare-up, the membrane on the bottom of the sinus and over your upper posterior teeth will swell and change your bite on those teeth.

Your physicians can deal with the sinus problems, but it would be difficult for them to incorporate the bite problems into this. An oral surgeon should be able to evaluate both the sinus and bite problems and proceed with a course of treatment recommendations. I would keep your dentist in the loop and ask him for a referral to an oral surgeon with whom he works well. Considering what seems to be a chronic sinus problem that has persisted for years, I would not be surprised if surgery were proposed to provide a drain from the maxillary sinus cavity.

Corinne Scalzitti, DMD, MAGD
Austin Reconstructive Implant Dentistry
3900 RR 620 South
Austin, Texas TX 78738
(512) 263-3330

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