Teeth Grinding & Jaw Clenching Treatment in Woodville

 

Grinding or clenching your teeth — dentists call it bruxism — is one of the most common problems we see at our Port Road practice, and one of the least noticed. Most grinding happens during sleep, so the first clue is often a partner hearing it at night, or a dentist spotting the wear before you’ve felt a thing. The good news: it’s very manageable, and protecting your teeth is usually simple.

Signs you might be grinding or clenching

• Waking with a sore or tired jaw, or tension headaches around the temples
• Teeth that look flatter, shorter or more worn than they used to
• Chipped enamel or cracked fillings without an obvious cause
• New sensitivity to hot, cold or biting pressure
• Clicking, popping or aching in the jaw joint near the ear
• A partner telling you they can hear grinding at night
• Scalloped edges on the tongue or ridges inside the cheeks

You don’t need all of these — even one or two are worth mentioning at your next visit.

Why it happens

Bruxism rarely has a single cause. Stress and anxiety are the most common drivers, but sleep disorders, some medications, caffeine and alcohol, and the way the teeth meet can all play a part. Children grind too — often transiently as their teeth develop. Part of our assessment is working out which factors apply to you, because that shapes what will actually help.

What happens if it’s left alone?

Teeth are built to chew food, not to spend hours a night under clenching forces many times stronger. Over years, unmanaged grinding can wear through enamel (which doesn’t grow back), crack teeth and fillings, strain the jaw joint and muscles, and lead to more complex — and more expensive — repair work. Catching it early usually means protecting rather than rebuilding.

How we treat it

A custom-fitted night splint is the mainstay of treatment. It’s a slim, precisely moulded guard, made from impressions or a digital scan of your own teeth, that you wear while you sleep. It doesn’t stop the grinding itself — no splint does, and we’ll be straight with you about that — but it takes the wear, so your teeth don’t. A well-made splint is comfortable enough to sleep in, lasts years with care, and is far more durable and better-fitting than a chemist boil-and-bite guard, which we generally don’t recommend for regular grinders.

Addressing the contributors. Depending on your situation, we may talk through sleep habits, stress management, caffeine timing, or a referral to your GP where a sleep disorder could be involved. If grinding has already damaged teeth, we’ll map out any repair work separately, with each option and its cost explained before anything proceeds.

If a splint alone isn’t enough, there are further treatment options for jaw muscle symptoms that we can discuss with you in person after an assessment. Every option, including doing nothing beyond monitoring, is explained with its benefits and limitations so you can decide what suits you.

What does treatment cost?

We don’t publish set fees, because splints and any associated treatment vary from person to person. After your assessment you’ll receive an itemised quote with dental item numbers before anything begins, so your health fund can tell you exactly what your policy contributes. Many extras policies rebate part of the cost of an occlusal splint.

Worried you’re a grinder? Start with a check-up

An ordinary examination is all it takes to see whether your teeth show the signature wear of grinding. Call us on (08) 8244 3677 or book online — Adelaide Dental Solutions, Suite 1, 850 Port Rd, Woodville South, serving families across Woodville, West Croydon, Kilkenny, Cheltenham and Seaton.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if I grind my teeth at night? Common clues are waking with a sore jaw or dull headache, teeth that look flattened or chipped, new sensitivity, or a partner hearing grinding. A dentist can usually confirm it from characteristic wear patterns during a normal check-up.

Are the mouthguards from the chemist any good? Boil-and-bite guards are better than nothing for very occasional use, but they’re bulky, fit loosely, and wear through quickly under regular grinding. A custom splint made from a mould of your own teeth is slimmer, more comfortable to sleep in, and lasts far longer.

Will a night splint stop me grinding? No — and be wary of anyone who promises that. A splint’s job is to protect your teeth by absorbing the grinding forces, so the wear happens to a replaceable appliance instead of irreplaceable enamel.

How long does a custom splint last? Typically several years, depending on how heavily you grind. We check it at your regular visits and can adjust or repair it; heavy grinders may wear through one faster, which itself is useful evidence of how much your teeth are being protected.

Do children grind their teeth? Yes, quite commonly, and it often settles as the adult teeth come through. It’s still worth mentioning at your child’s check-up so we can monitor wear and rule out other causes.

Will my health fund cover a night splint? Many extras policies contribute towards an occlusal splint under their dental benefits. Your itemised quote includes the item number, so your fund can confirm your exact rebate before you go ahead.

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Adelaide Dental Solutions · Suite 1, 850 Port Rd, Woodville South
SA 5011 · (08) 8244 3677. This page is general information, not
individual advice — an examination is needed to diagnose and treat
bruxism.

Woken by sudden tooth pain or cracked a tooth? See our emergency dentist page.