“Would my son need surgery if he keeps grinding his teeth?”
My son grinds his teeth while he's sleeping and loudly, too. We would like to get him a mouth guard, just to see how it'll help him. But if he continues grinding his teeth, would he need surgery for his teeth?
1 Answer
Nighttime grinding of teeth is called "bruxism or bruxing". It is nature's way of milling a better fit for the teeth. Sometimes the bruxing can get out of control and people do serious damage to their teeth, bone or TMJ's. Best to have a dentist with good understanding of 'occlusion' give him an exam before you do anything on your own. You do not want to create an even bigger problem. A good way to find a dentist who understands occlusion is to call either the Dawson Academy or the Pankey Institute. Both of these teaching institutions are located in Florida but teach dentists from around the country about advanced occlusion. They keep records of their dentists who have taken these courses. Good luck.
