20
Jun
Protect Your Smile and Enjoy Improved Oral Health with Bruxism Treatment
Persistent jaw pain and headaches can disrupt everyday activities, including eating, speaking, and sleeping. At Dr. Ban R. Barbat, we offer bruxism treatment to patients in and around Shelby Township, Michigan. Don’t let discomfort diminish your quality of life. Schedule your appointment with Dr. Ban Barbat and reclaim a healthy, pain-free smile.
What is bruxism?
Your teeth are naturally built to help you chew food efficiently—grinding it into smaller, digestible pieces that your body can easily absorb. However, when you grind or clench your teeth without food in between, particularly at night while you sleep, it puts intense, unnatural pressure on your teeth and jaw joints. This habit, known as bruxism, can quietly wreak havoc on your oral health.
Symptoms of bruxism include:Â
- Jaw pain or soreness
- Constant headaches
- Sleep disturbances
- Tooth sensitivity
- Earaches and ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
Why should I be worried about bruxism?
Bruxism is more than just a bad habit—it’s often an unconscious response to stress, misaligned bite, or other neuromuscular imbalances. Over time, this repeated clenching and grinding wears down tooth enamel, leading to flattened, chipped, or cracked teeth. It can also strain your temporomandibular joints (TMJs), causing jaw pain, headaches, earaches (ear aches), and difficulty opening or closing your mouth comfortably. Severe cases can cause teeth grinding and the need for costly repairs, including dental crowns, root canals, and implants.Â
How is bruxism diagnosed?
Bruxism often occurs at night while you’re asleep, which makes it especially tricky to diagnose—most people don’t even realize they’re doing it. Our dentist uses a trained eye and advanced diagnostic tools to uncover the subtle clues of bruxism.Â
During your exam, we check for flattened or chipped teeth, tight jaw muscles, enamel erosion, and even damage to dental restorations. Sometimes, we may use digital imaging or bite analysis with TekScan or Biopak to evaluate your jaw alignment and track your bite’s behavior under pressure. Better diagnosis is key to effective treatment.
Get in Touch With Us
New Patients: (586) 551-7255 | Existing Patients: (586) 739-2155
How is bruxism treated in Shelby Township?Â
After a bruxism diagnosis, one of the most effective first steps is fabricating a custom nightguard tailored to your bite. This slim, comfortable device is worn while you sleep, creating a barrier between your upper and lower teeth. A nightguard protects your smile from further damage and allows your jaw muscles to relax overnight.
However, we don’t stop at managing symptoms. A bruxism nightguard protects your teeth but doesn’t address the root cause. Our team will work with you to determine the why behind your bruxism. Is it stress-related? Linked to bite misalignment? A result of airway obstruction or TMJ dysfunction? Identifying the root cause helps us develop a targeted treatment plan, including bite adjustments, orthodontics, lifestyle changes, or jaw joint rehabilitation. We don’t just help you manage bruxism; we help you overcome it.
Do you need bruxism treatment near Shelby Township, MI?
Left untreated, bruxism can spark a destructive cycle—damaged teeth, painful jaws, and a bite that becomes increasingly misaligned, compounding the problem further. Don’t let constant teeth grinding or clenching compromise your oral health. Call (586) 551-7255 and schedule your consultation with Dr. Ban R. Barbat in Shelby Township, MI, and areas around Macomb County and Oakland County. Life without jaw pain or headaches is possible!
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Dr. Ban Barbat
Dr. Ban Barbat is a dedicated dentist with over 30 years of experience, having founded her private practice in Shelby Township in 1997. She earned her doctorate from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, where she excelled in comprehensive care and crown and bridge procedures. Dr. Barbat is a Fellow at the LVI Institute for Advanced Dental Studies and a member of the International Association of Physiologic Aesthetics and the Academy of General Dentistry. Her ongoing commitment to advanced training and community engagement reflects her dedication to delivering trustworthy and innovative dental care.