For professionals, many dentists diagnose bruxism only by hunch, which hinders treatment of the condition.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 30% of the world’s population suffers from bruxism. In Brazil the number is even more alarming, reaching up to 40%.
For a condition that affects both quality of life and bruxism, you need to look for more effective treatments, says Andrea Melo, a dental surgeon with a doctorate in dentistry.
“Bruxism significantly damages the patient’s quality of life. It can cause headaches, jaw discomfort, tooth wear and a direct consequence of problems in the quality of sleep. Among other problems that directly affect the quality of life. Here’s why it is essential to seek appropriate treatment to alleviate these problems,” warns the specialist.
What is bruxism?
Bruxism is the involuntary act of grinding or clenching your teeth, usually during sleep. It can be a consequence of stress, anxiety, sleep disorders, hormonal changes or secondary to other diseases such as apnea. There is also waking bruxism, known as the habit of clenching your teeth during the day.
The most common symptoms are headache, jaw discomfort, wear of the teeth, which can also cause bone growth, marks on the tongue and difficulty sleeping.
The treatment includes important sleep supplements, changes in night-time and eating habits, the use of specific dental plates to protect the teeth, cognitive therapies to reduce stress, dental adjustments and, in some cases, physiotherapy interventions to relax the teeth. muscles.
The Brazilian dentist helps make the treatment more effective
Andrea Melo, creator of the method, says that a broader treatment is needed to understand the variety of causes and symptoms of bruxism and bring better results. According to her, the new methodology is based on three pillars: differential diagnosis, treatment and control.
“This triad helps to identify the main factor that causes bruxism in the individual in question, mainly through specific forms validated in the medical literature. It is essential to better analyze the typology of bruxism. For example, if it causes increased grinding or clenching of the teeth, through the examination of the diagnostic plate”, he explains.
The diagnostic plaque technique consists of an ultra-thin plaque placed in the patient’s mouth that identifies bruxism patterns. It is a painless test that the patient uses while sleeping for 5-7 days. The goal is to identify the type of bruxism and its intensity.
According to Andrea, many dentists make the diagnosis based on assumptions and, therefore, often end up getting the treatment wrong. With this in mind, the professional has developed a comprehensive methodology to improve the diagnosis and, therefore, the solution of the problem.
“The treatment is carried out in four phases: the first consists of solving bad habits, sleeping, eating, etc. The second focuses on integration, we do not use drugs with the strip. The third phase involves the use of different customized plates which help to avoid wear and pain. In the last phase, the patient’s teeth are analyzed to correct occlusion and other situations”, explains the dentist.
“Once the treatment is finished, the patient has three months to make the prescribed changes, the use of different supplements and plates. Subsequently the check-up is carried out, in which the patient’s situation is periodically analyzed to realign, modulate, direct or suspend the integration treatment”, concludes Andrea.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
