Bruxism (Tooth Grinding) Crystal Lake Dental Asociates

Bruxism

Severe bruxism

Bruxism is the medical term for grinding, gnashing or clenching your teeth. The condition affects both children and adults.

Some people with bruxism unconsciously clench their teeth together during the day, often when they feel anxious or tense. This is different from tooth grinding or clenching that occurs at night, which is called sleep bruxism. Most children who are bruxers do so at night, while adults are either daytime or nighttime bruxers.

Bruxism may be mild and may not even require treatment. However, it can be frequent and severe enough to lead to jaw disorders, headaches, damaged teeth and other problems. Unfortunately, people with sleep bruxism usually aren't aware of the habit, so they aren't diagnosed with the condition until complications occur. That's why it's important to know the signs and symptoms of bruxism and to seek regular dental care.

Bruxism on molars

Signs and symptoms of Bruxism

The signs and symptoms of bruxism may include:

•  Teeth grinding or clenching, which may be loud enough to wake your sleep partner
•  Teeth that are worn down, flattened or chipped
•  Worn tooth enamel, exposing the inside of your tooth
•  Increased tooth sensitivity
•  Jaw pain or tightness in your jaw muscles
•  Earache — because of severe jaw muscle contractions, not a problem with your ear
•  Headache
•  Chronic facial pain
•  Chewed tissue on the inside of your cheek

Causes of bruxism

Doctors don't completely understand the causes of bruxism. For daytime bruxism, it has been thought that abnormal alignment of upper and lower teeth (malocclusion) may contribute to the problem, though this hasn't been confirmed in research studies. Sleep bruxism is believed to be related to changes that occur during sleep cycles in some individuals, and this is an active area of current research.

In adults, psychological factors seem to be associated with bruxism, including:

• Anxiety, stress or tension
• Suppressed anger or frustration
• Aggressive, competitive or hyperactive personality type

In children, bruxism may be related to growth and development of the jaws and teeth. Some researchers think children brux because their top and bottom teeth don't fit together comfortably as they are erupting.  Others believe that children grind their teeth because of tension, anger, or as a response to pain from an earache or teething. While bruxism has been reported to occur in up to 30 percent of children, often in children under the age of 5, most children outgrow bruxism before they get their adult teeth.

In some cases, bruxism isn't caused by stress or dental problems. It can be a complication of another disorder, such as Huntington's disease or Parkinson's disease. It can also be an uncommon side effect of some psychiatric medications including certain antidepressants.

Risk factors for Bruxism

These factors increase your risk of bruxism:

• Stress. Increased anxiety or stress can lead to teeth grinding. So can anger and frustration.
• Age. Bruxism is common in young children, but usually goes away by adolescence.

When to seek medical advice for Bruxism

Bruxism often goes unnoticed. See your dentist if you have worn teeth or pain in your jaw, face or ear. Also consult your dentist if your bed partner complains that you make a grinding noise while you sleep.

If you notice that your child is grinding his or her teeth — or has other signs or symptoms of this condition — be sure to mention it at your  next dental appointment.

Bite-plane to control bruxism


Your comments are welcome

Dr. Neal answers all of your questions about bruxism at Crystal Lake Dental Associates.

Phillip C. Neal DDS

Crystal Lake Dental Associates

280 B Memorial Court

Crystal Lake, Illinois 60014

815 459 2202

www.DrNeal.com

John Quincy Adams Crystal Lake Dental Associates

John Quincy Adams

John Quincy Adams 6th President of the United States (March 4, 1825 to March 3, 1829) Nickname: "Old Man Eloquent" “Accidental President” Born: July 11, 1767, in Braintree (now Quincy), Massachusetts Died: February 23, 1848, in Washington, D.C.

Father:  John Adams
Mother: Abigail Smith Adams
Married: Louisa Catherine Johnson (1775-1852), on July 26, 1797
Children: George Washington Adams (1801-29); John Adams (1803-34); Charles Francis Adams (1807-86); Louisa Catherine Adams (1811-12)

Religion: Unitarian
Education: Graduated from Harvard College (1787)
Occupation: Lawyer
Political Party: Democratic-Republican

Life Overview

John Quincy Adams ⁱ/ˈkwɪnzi/ (July 11, 1767 – February 23, 1848) was the sixth President of the United States (1825–1829). He served as an American diplomat, Senator, and Congressional representative. He was a member of the Federalist, Democratic-Republican, National Republican, and later Anti-Masonic and Whig parties. Adams was the son of former President John Adams and Abigail Adams. As a diplomat, Adams played an important role in negotiating many international treaties, most notably the Treaty of Ghent, which ended the War of 1812. As Secretary of State, he negotiated with the United Kingdom over America's northern border with Canada, negotiated with Spain the annexation of Florida, and authored the Monroe Doctrine. Historians agree he was one of the greatest diplomats and secretaries of state in American history.^[2][3]

As president, he sought to modernize the American economy and promoted education. Adams enacted a part of his agenda and paid off much of the national debt.^[4] He was stymied by a Congress controlled by his enemies, and his lack of patronage networks helped politicians eager to undercut him. He lost his 1828 bid for re-election to Andrew Jackson. In doing so, he became the first President since his father to serve a single term.

Adams is best known as a diplomat who shaped America's foreign policy in line with his ardently nationalist commitment to America's republican values. More recently Howe (2007) portrayed Adams as the exemplar and moral leader in an era of modernization. During Adams' lifetime, technological innovations and new means of communication spread messages of religious revival, social reform, and party politics. Goods, money and people traveled more rapidly and efficiently than ever before.^[5]

Adams was elected a U.S. Representative from Massachusetts after leaving office, the only president ever to be so, serving for the last 17 years of his life with far greater success than he had achieved in the presidency. Animated by his growing revulsion against slavery,^[6] Adams became a leading opponent of the Slave Power. He correctly predicted that if a civil war were to break out, the president could abolish slavery by using his war powers; Abraham Lincoln did just that with the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. Adams also predicted the Union's dissolution over the slavery issue, but said that if the South became independent there would be a series of bloody slave revolts.^[7]

Notable Events:

• 1825
• The appointment of Henry Clay as secretary of state, led to charges that the Clay and Adams made a bargain in the election of 1824.
• Erie Canal completed.
• 1828
• Baltimore & Ohio railroad, the first designed for passengers and freight.
• Andrew Jackson defeated Adams.

Points of Interest:

• President Adams regularly swam nude in the Potomac River. Anne Royall, the first American professional journalist, knew of Adams' 5 A.M. swims. After being refused interviews with the president time after time, she went to the river, gathered his clothes and sat on them until she had her interview. Before this, no female had interviewed a president.
• Adams was the first to be elected president without receiving either the most popular votes or the most votes of the electoral college.
• He was the first president married abroad.
• Adams was the first president to be photographed.
• Adams is the only president to be elected to the House after his presidency.
• One of his sons, George Washington Adams, died at the age of 28, an apparent suicide.

Notable Quotes:

"America, with the same voice, which spoke herself into existence as a nation, proclaimed to mankind the inextinguishable rights of human nature, and the only lawful foundation of government. Independence forever!"

"Our Constitution professedly rests upon the good sense and attachment of the people. This basis, weak as it may appear, has not yet been found to fail. "

"Posterity--you will never know how much it has cost my generation to preserve your freedom. I hope you will make good use of it."

"Duty is ours; results are God's."

"Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost."

"Individual liberty is individual power, and as the power of a community is a mass compounded of individual powers, the nation which enjoys the most freedom must necessarily be in proportion to its numbers the most powerful nation. "

"The only temper that honors a nation is that which rises in proportion to the pressure upon it."

"Literature has been the charm of my life, and could I have carved out my own fortunes, to literature would be my whole life have been devoted."

"Independence forever!"

"The dominion of man over physical nature has been extended by the invention of our artists. Liberty and law have marched hand in hand. All the purposes of human association have been accomplished as effectively as under any other government on the globe, and a cost little exceeding in a whole generation the expenditure of nations in a single year."

"The influence of each human being on others in this life is a kind of immortality."

"Internal improvements was at once my conscience and my treasure."

"Above all, let us never forget, in the most fervent heat of our party conflicts, that there is a cause, embracing and transcending all others . . . the cause of our country."

"All men profess honesty as long as they can. To believe all men honest would be folly. To believe none so is something worse."

"This prosperity of the country, independent of all agency of the Government, is so great that the people have nothing to disturb them but their own waywardness and corruption."

"Why does it follow that women are fitted for nothing but the cares of domestic life, for bearing children and cooking the food for the family? I say women exhibit the most exalted virtue when they depart from the domestic circle and enter on the concerns of their country, of humanity, and of their God."

"Slavery is the great and foul stain upon the North American Union, and it is contemplation worthy of the most exalted soul whether its total abolition is or is not practicable. "

"Courage and perseverance have a magical talisman, before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish into air."

"If I cannot hope to give satisfaction to my country, I am at least determined to have the approbation of my own reflections."

Resources

 Retrieved 11/19/2011 from http:/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Quincy_Adams

1996-2008 Summers, Robert.( 1996-2008). John Adams. In ipl2: Information You Can Trust: POTUS. Retrieved 11/21/2011, from 2011 http://www.ipl.org/div/potus/jqadams.html  Great Presidential Quotes. John Quincy Adams. Retrieved 11/21/2011, from http://www.greatpresidentialquotes.com/index.php?set=details&id=6&page=0

 Your Comments are welcome.

Phillip C. Neal DDS

Crystal Lake Dental Associates

280 B Memorial Court

Crystal Lake, Illinois 60014

815 459 2202

www.DrNeal.com

Sedation Dentistry Crystal Lake Dentist

Are You a Candidate for Sedation Dentistry?

If you have any of the following you may be someone who would benefit from sedation dentistry:

• Fear of dental treatment
• History of traumatic dental experiences
• Difficulty getting numb
• Very sensitive gag reflex or difficulty opening
• Extremely sensitive teeth
• Limited time to get your dental care completed
• Complex dental problems; or a need for surgery
• Above average disdain for “getting numb”
• Embarrassment about your teeth
• In denial of a dental problem until the pain is unbearable
• Have not received professional dental care in many years, perhaps decades
• Go from dentist to dentist, or doctors, to renew painkiller prescriptions for dental  problems
• Often make and then cancel dental appointments
• Make numerous, lengthy phone calls to the dentist's office
• Experience sweaty palms or find yourself gripping the armrests 
  If you hate the noises, smells and tastes associated with dental care and offices, and you can’t block them out, then you may want to “sleep” while you have your dental work done.

Recent research indicates that the number one reason adults postpone needed dental care is fear. That's right, not time, not money, but fear!  Yet dental decay and periodontal disease don’t strike only those who aren’t afraid to visit the dentist.

How Sedation Works

With safe and proven techniques, patients receive sedative drugs which work rapidly to create a relaxed state that is maintained and monitored throughout treatment. Beyond creating an optimal environment for you, sedation dentistry also allows the doctor to complete multiple procedures in one appointment.

With sedation you simply won’t remember or be aware of any of the procedures that are performed.  You breathe on your own, unlike hospital anesthesia where a machine breathes for you.  It is like sleeping through your appointment!
Sedation Facts:

• It really works! You really can relax through your dental appointment.
• You will have little or no memory of the experience.
• You won't remember any sounds or smells.
• Complex dental treatments that often require multiple appointments can often be done in as little as one or two!  All while you relax.
• People who have difficulty getting numb will have no problem when relaxed.
• Sedation dentistry is a safe way to reduce the fatigue of extended dental treatment requiring long visits.

Dr. Neal answers all of your questions about smile make-overs and provisional restorations at Crystal Lake Dental Associates.

Phillip C. Neal DDS

Crystal Lake Dental Associates

280 B Memorial Court

Crystal Lake, Illinois 60014

815 459 2202

www.DrNeal.com

Carifree Crystal Lake Dental Associates

Carifree by Oral BioTech

Carifree for cavities

Sometimes despite your best efforts to brush and floss as the dentist prescribes, you may still find out at your next visit that you did not escape the dreaded cavity diagnosis. That is because brushing and flossing does not always attack the root cause of a cavity. And neither does drilling or filling a cavity. 

Dental technology and research has brought us another step closer to the light with the Carifree system by Oral BioTech. Research has found that all teeth have a thin biofolm around them that house or contain many a microscopic bacteria. Most of the bacteria is normal and healthy. But the content of the biofolm can shift to an unhealthy form that causes cavities. 

Using the Carifree system, your dentist can test the biofolm to see if the bacteria are the good or bad kind.  If harmful bacteria are found a proper diagnosis and treatment method can be prescribed. Prevention of cavities as opposed to simply filling them can become your priority.  This proactive approach to keeping your smile healthy is now available at our office.


Cavities can be a problem for adults as well. If you are  on several medications, you may have less saliva or a "dry mouth". This condition sets ou up for increased cavities. 


useful link


medications that cause drymouth


Dr. Neal answers all of your questions about cavities, dry mouth syndrome and Carifree at Crystal Lake dental Associates


Your comments are welcome.

Oral Cancer-Crystal Lake Dental Associates

Oral Cancer and ViziLite Plus


We now know that oral cancer claims one life every hour in the U.S.--- more than the number of lives lost to skin cancer, cervical cancer or Hodgkin’s disease, and it is of great concern to Dr. Neal.
Because early detection is the key to successful outcomes, this practice has incorporated ViziLite Plus,  a technology cleared by the FDA, into the standard of care of the practice, to ensure that you receivethe most comprehensive oral cancer screening possible.
ViziLite Plus is a simple, painless and non-invasive technology that improves the doctor's ability to visualize, mark, evaluate and monitor suspicious areas at their earliest stages, before they can progress to something far more serious, and potentially life-threatening. ViziLite Plus helps the doctor see what he/she can't see with the unaided eye.

     

Dr. Neal answers all of your questions about oral cancer at Crystal Lake Dental Associates.

Phillip C. Neal DDS

Crystal Lake Dental Associates

280 B Memorial Court

Crystal Lake, Illinois 60014

815 459 2202

www.DrNeal.com