America 's Latest Dental Epidemic
Are your front teeth getting shorter? Are your gums receding? Are your teeth chipping and breaking? Are you aware that you are clenching or grinding your teeth? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you could be one of many Americans on their way to wearing out their teeth.
For our parents' generation, losing some or many of their teeth was an expected outcome of the aging process. Not so any more. In 1965 the average retiree had seven teeth. In 1995 the average retiree had 24 teeth. This shows a 300 percent improvement in 30 years, according to the American Dental Association.
Dentistry has been successful at helping people retain their teeth longer. However, there is a new epidemic affecting millions of Americans. We are keeping our teeth longer but in the process we are wearing them out.
Symptoms Are Often Pain Free
Improving the odds of retaining your teeth for life requires more than just daily brushing, flossing and periodic checkups. It requires a more detailed inspection to check for signs of early breakdown. Symptoms are often pain-free.
Signs to look for are chipped, shortened or broken teeth, gum recession and clenching or grinding. Excessive force is placed on the teeth from clenching and grinding, causing these problems. Misalignment of the bite (the way the upper teeth contact the lower teeth) is the No. 1 contributor to clenching and grinding.
Dentists' primary objective in these cases is to prevent, correct and/or manage excessive force. Just like tires' misalignment on a vehicle causes premature wear and tear, so does the misalignment of our bite.
Emerging Dental Care Philosophy
Historically, the dental profession has not always treated patients proactively to reduce excessive force. But the good news is that excessive force can be corrected or managed, and there are dentists who practice this approach.
The chewing or masticating system in the body is multi-faceted. An imbalance in one area can create disharmony in another. Basically, the chewing system is made up of the temporomadibular (TM) joints, muscles, teeth and periodontia (gum and bone). Ideally, these components work in harmony with each other. When excessive force occurs, it results in system breakdown. The component that breaks down first is the weakest link in the chewing system.
Since the balance of power in the system is different for every patient, diagnosing and treating an imbalance is also unique to every patient. For example, if the patient's weakest link is the TM joints or muscles, the patient may experience pain and/or popping in the ear, headaches, muscle fatigue, stiffness or clicking in the ear. If the gum and bone are the weakest link, a patient may experience gum recession, tooth loss or bone loss around the teeth. Finally, if the teeth are the weakest link, you may experience shortening, chipping or flattening of the teeth. Once the tooth enamel is worn down, tooth wear is accelerated as the next layer, dentin, is only one-tenth as hard as the enamel layer.
If you are one of the many Americans who are at risk of wearing out your teeth, it may not be too late. But the earlier the symptoms are diagnosed and treated, the better your chances of maintaining a beautiful smile and healthy teeth for a lifetime.
Treatment Options
Fortunately, there are a variety of treatment options available, and they vary with the severity of the problem.
Some people are simply not aware that they are clenching their teeth. Once informed, they are more conscious of this menacing habit. If your facial muscles are tense or you are in the habit of setting your jaw – stop it.
A bite guard is a hard plastic mouthpiece that fits over the biting surface of the teeth and protects them during clenching or grinding. The mouthpiece should be well made and comfortable. Clenching and grinding frequently occur during sleep, and wearing a bite guard at night may be necessary.
Balancing the bite is a very delicate procedure performed by a skilled dentist to bring the teeth in harmony with each other and align the jaw joints. This is executed by either a small amount of tooth structure removal or the addition of tooth structure in the form of tooth-colored filling to bring balance to your bite.
If the teeth have become shorter and/or chipped, cosmetic options are available to enhance the smile. Crowns, veneers or bonding are treatment options available to replace lost tooth structure and bring the bite back into alignment.
Just as in maintaining your overall physical health, you have to take responsibility for your own dental health. If you notice chipped teeth, worn teeth, receding gum line, loose teeth, muscle stiffness, popping in the ears or headaches, you should consult with your dentist immediately. These problems are preventable and you can save yourself a lot of time in the dental chair if symptoms are caught early. And, your teeth may just live as long as you do.
Signs that indicate tooth wear:
- Chipped or broken teeth
- Receding gums
- Shortening of front teeth
- Tight jaw muscles or pain in the jaw
Charles W. Vittitow, D.M.D., practices at The Center for Aesthetic and Gentle Dentistry, 106 Watterson Trail, Middletown, KY. He is a member of the American Dental Association and is one of only two dentists in Louisville to achieve sustaining member status with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. Dr. Vittitow is a graduate of the University of Kentucky School of Dentistry. He has also studied at the Pankey Institute for Advanced Dental Studies and now serves on the board of directors for the Pankey Institute. For more information visit www.LouisvilleSmiles.com.
