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Stop Waking Up With Headaches and Jaw Pain
Do you clench or grind your teeth while you sleep? Bruxism and Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) disorders can cause chronic headaches, severe jaw pain, and permanently damage your teeth. At Westlake Dental, we provide custom-fitted splints and management plans to relieve your pain and protect your smile.
Is Stress Destroying Your Teeth?
Many people do not even realise they grind their teeth (bruxism) until their partner complains about the noise, or their dentist points out the severe wear on their enamel.
But you probably notice the symptoms. You might wake up with a dull, constant headache. Your jaw muscles feel tight, tired, or sore. You might hear a clicking or popping sound when you open your mouth to eat or yawn.
When you clench your jaw during sleep, you exert massive amounts of force on your teeth and the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) that connects your jaw to your skull. Over time, this extreme pressure wears down your enamel, cracks fillings, breaks teeth, and causes chronic, debilitating facial pain.
Ignoring the problem does not make it go away; it just leads to more expensive dental repairs down the track.
Custom Splints for Immediate Relief
The most effective way to treat jaw pain and protect your teeth from grinding is with a custom-fitted occlusal splint (often called a night guard).
A splint is a hard, clear acrylic device that fits precisely over your upper or lower teeth. You wear it only while you sleep.
It works in two ways:
- It acts as a physical barrier, preventing your upper and lower teeth from grinding against each other and wearing away your enamel.
- It slightly opens your bite, which relaxes the powerful jaw muscles and relieves the pressure on your TMJ.
By breaking the cycle of clenching and muscle tension, a splint can often eliminate morning headaches and jaw pain entirely.
Why See Dr Gilbert for Jaw Pain?
Treating TMD is complex. It is not just about protecting the teeth; it is about understanding how the jaw joint, muscles, and teeth all work together.
Kois Centre Training
Dr Gilbert Stehbens is a graduate of the prestigious Kois Centre in Seattle, which focuses heavily on biomechanics and how the bite functions. He understands the root causes of occlusal (bite) disease.
Comprehensive Diagnosis
We do not just hand you a mouthguard. We thoroughly assess your bite, jaw muscles, and joint function to ensure a splint is the correct treatment for your specific type of pain.
Precision Fabrication
Your splint is custom-made by a master dental laboratory based on highly accurate digital scans of your teeth, ensuring a perfect, comfortable fit.
The Benefits of Treating Bruxism
Eliminate Morning Headaches
By relaxing the jaw muscles overnight, you can wake up feeling refreshed instead of reaching for painkillers first thing in the morning.
Protect Your Natural Teeth
Enamel does not grow back. A splint takes the destructive force of grinding, preventing your teeth from becoming short, flat, and sensitive.
Save Money on Future Dental Work
Grinding is the number one cause of cracked teeth and broken fillings. Investing in a splint now can save you thousands of dollars in crowns and root canals later.
Reduce Jaw Clicking and Locking
Taking the pressure off the TMJ allows the inflamed joint tissues to heal, reducing painful clicking, popping, and episodes where the jaw feels "stuck."
Start With a TMD Assessment
You do not have to live with chronic facial pain.
We offer an initial TMD and Jaw Pain Assessment with Dr Gilbert. During this visit, we will:
- Discuss your symptoms, including headaches, neck pain, and jaw clicking
- Examine your teeth for signs of wear and test the function of your jaw muscles and joints
- Explain how your bite might be contributing to the problem
- Discuss whether a custom splint or other management strategies are right for you, and provide a clear quote
Do Not Wait Until a Tooth Breaks
The forces generated by sleep bruxism are incredibly powerful. Every night you grind your teeth unprotected, you risk suddenly cracking a molar — turning a manageable grinding issue into an immediate dental emergency.
Because diagnosing TMD requires dedicated time to properly assess the joint and muscles, we only have a limited number of assessment slots available each week. If you are waking up in pain, book your appointment today.
The Westlake Promise
We are committed to finding the source of your pain, not just treating the symptoms.
Thorough Investigation
We look at the whole picture — your bite, your airway, and your stress levels — to understand why you are grinding.
Perfect Fit
A poorly fitted splint can make jaw pain worse. We guarantee your custom splint will be adjusted until it fits comfortably and balances your bite perfectly.
Ongoing Care
We will monitor your splint at your regular check-ups to ensure it is still protecting your teeth and functioning correctly.
Ready to Stop the Pain?
Protect your teeth and wake up pain-free. Book your TMD assessment with Dr Gilbert today.
Why Pharmacy Mouthguards Fail
It is tempting to buy a cheap, boil-and-bite mouthguard from the pharmacy to stop grinding. However, these soft, rubbery devices are designed for sports, not for bruxism.
Because they are soft, they actually encourage you to chew on them during the night, which overworks the jaw muscles and often makes TMJ pain significantly worse. Furthermore, because they do not fit precisely, they can shift your teeth out of alignment over time.
Only a hard, custom-fitted acrylic splint prescribed by a dentist can safely protect your teeth and relax your jaw muscles.
P.S. Did you know that jaw clenching is sometimes linked to sleep apnoea? Your body may push your jaw forward to open a blocked airway while you sleep. During your assessment, Dr Gilbert will check for signs of airway issues to ensure we are treating the right problem. Learn more about our Sleep Apnoea treatments.