Establishing a higher profile for bruxism

Sufferers from migraine, tinnitus, a failure to wake refreshed even after a night's sleep, neck ache or TMD usually head for their GP's surgery as a first resort, although these days some will no doubt trawl the internet for a solution before seeking professional advice. Not many will realise their conditions are quite likely to be a consequence of nocturnal bruxism, and can be resolved by a dentist. With more than half the adult population of the UK believed to suffer from bruxism at some time, it's no surprise that those dentists who are aware of the condition report that up to 85% of their patients present the symptoms associated with persistent clenching and tooth grinding. However, since bruxing is generally sleep-related, the patient is frequently unaware of his/her unconscious oral movements, and all too often the dentist will assume their tooth wear is the result of ageing or normal mastication.