Again my thanks to Dr Andrew Smith at Front Range Dental Sleep Medicine. With all issues that are sleep-related, he and Dr Dennis Bailey have proved to be invaluable resources. This is part II of his conversation with me regarding nightly grinding/sleep bruxism...
Night guards play a critical and primary role in protecting the dentition.
Asking about waking up first thing in the morning (or middle of the night) with painful or "cramping" jaw is important. Also ask if their bed partners hear or see it occurring. Witnessed or observed events are the next best evidence to having a polysomnograph diagnosis.
If the pain is worse in the evening, it is likely from daytime clenching / poor jaw posture. although bruxism may be a comorbidity.
The only definitive diagnosis is by polysomnograph with audio, video and EMGs on the muscles of mastication.
More sinister possibilities include a sleep-seizure with jaw snapping. This is bad news. Few patients experience this, but it can happen.
Generally, sleep bruxism is not "cured", but managed just like chronic pain patients. Anyone professing the ability to cure or stop it is (incorrectly misguided).
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So there you have it! Some very key ways to manage sleep bruxism that can strongly impact chronically painful conditions in individuals. In my practice, I consistently see the link between individuals in pain and a lack of quality sleep at night. The very first step is your decision to commit to act in getting better sleep at night! I find most individuals say that they want to have less daily pain, but they aren't committed to doing what it takes. Here is a list of what YOU can do today to get better sleep at night which will so often lead to less pain.
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And
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