It is estimated that 10-15 percent of Americans moderately or severely grind their teeth. Normally, we exert about 20 to 30 pounds per square inch on our back molars when we chew. but teeth grinders, especially at night without restraint, can exert up to as much as 200 pounds per square inch on their teeth.

The relentless wear and tear at night from grinding can quickly erode enamel, fracture teeth, affect bite and damage the temporomandibular joint at the hinge of the jaw, and the masseter muscle, which controls the jaws. Jaw and face pain as well as earaches and headaches may also occur.

Having treated this condition for over thirty years, I’ve helped many night grinders eliminate their problems.

*Some information for this article was taken from NY Times article of October 2009: When Stress Takes a Toll on Your Teeth.

The distance between your nose and chin is detemined by your back teeth. So your entire face, lips and smile is dependent on your back teeth.

The teeth in the back of your mouth serve a vital chewing function. If that function is compromised due to missing or broken down teeth that need to be capped or replaced, the entire chewing mechanism is compromised.

This sets the scene for more tooth loss in the future. Besides, it reduces the ability to chew up your food and puts the brunt of digestion on your stomach. This often results in gastointestinal problems.

So, replacing missing teeth or getting crowns in the back of your mouth is not a cosmetic decision — but a decision in favor of maintaining overall health.

This is not a recognized specialty in dentistry. Rather, it’s a term we use in our office to describe the Pagano Protocol – the sequence in which your teeth, gums and structure are treated which results in a dazzling smile that sits in a structurally sound foundation.

What do we mean by “orthopedic cosmetic dentistry?” Think of your teeth and gums as the inside of a house and your jaw and head bones as the structure and foundation. Once Doc ensures that the structure is balanced and stable – which often includes treatment that eliminates headaches,

teeth grinding and other unwanted conditions – then the restorative and cosmetic treatments on your teeth and gums can be performed on a stable foundation. This results in cosmetic treatment that lasts, a bite that feels natural, and eliminates redoing your work.

One patient with lifelong headaches experienced complete relief. Her treatment included straightening her teeth and getting a gorgeous smile.

You can read more about orthopedic dentistry in Doc’s free downloadable ebook: Lifetime Smile at www.stlouisdentistdrpete.com.

Correct the Problem and These Symptoms Go Away. That’s Done By Balancing Your Head, Neck and Jaw Before Doing Dental Work. That’s What Orthopedic Dentistry Is All About. It Also Ensures Your Cosmetic Enhancements Don’t Create An Imbalance.

In a perfectly constructed mouth, the teeth and jaw fit together to perform the function of chewing. The slightest adjustment to a tooth can throw this precise functioning off-balance. Even the replacement of a filling can make your bite feel different if it’s not balanced correctly and if not adjusted, can cause your jaw joints to move out of place.

If just a simple filling requires such precision, imagine the skill required in placing veneers or implants while ensuring they not only look great but are completely natural in their feel and fit.

Like a perfectly balanced bridge constructed to withstand the elements of weather and carry immense weight, your teeth and jaw are designed with a similar precision. The ability to work with the precision of an engineer and the talent of a master artisan ensures your dental outcome is both sound and beautiful.

A 52 year old St Louis woman came to me out of desperation. After suffering from migraines for decades, I was the last resort, so to speak, after a string of failures with other treatments. The popping jaw was the first indication that the source of the pain could be stemming from a misaligned bite caused by a jaw joint that was out of place. With x-rays and extensive diagnosis, I isolated the cause of her condition and we immediately went into treatment with the result of no more headaches.

I follow the school of simplicity. That is, if the solution starts sounding too complex, I know I’m probably on the wrong trail. That approach has enabled me to help patients out of pain and eliminate unnecessary dental procedures.

Another patient came to me having decided to undergo surgery to “fix” the popping and clicking in her jaw that began after an accident. The hospital date was scheduled and a friend suggested she double-check with me before going through with the surgery. After examining her, I diagnosed that her jaw joint was out of place and convinced her to postpone the surgery. I had to twist her arm, but she agreed. Three months later all traces of the condition were gone, at a fraction of the cost and without the trauma.

Another woman came to me with headaches and clicking jaws. Turns out her orthodontic treatment followed by a tonsillectomy had put enough strain on the jaw to throw off her bite. Once a corrective appliance was made to put her jaw back in place, the condition evaporated.

That’s why we always take more x-rays at my office than is customary. I don’t launch into fixing teeth or doing cosmetics before ensuring your bite is correct. It would be like doing interior decorating on a house that’s built on a cracked foundation.

More about this can be found in my free downloadable ebook: Lifetime Smile.

The same woman I just mentioned was looking to invest a sizeable amount on dental procedures in several different offices around town. She was recommended to me for a second opinion.

After examining her I knew she suffered from headaches, neck aches and low back pain. She was shocked that I knew this. All of the treatment other doctors had advised was correct — EXCEPT — there was one key component missing. She had a jaw joint that was out of place and no one addressed that.

Over time, this condition had created other dental problems, which included missing teeth on the side where the jaw joint was out of place. And of course, she had pain as a result of her condition.

Her proposed treatment addressed every aspect of her dental health — except her jaw joint problem. By individually consulting different doctors for various aspects of her treatment, she was trying to renovate her mouth without an overall coordinated plan.