Ptsd And Dental Woes

[piratelady]

I had a dentist appointment and was informed that I am clenching my teeth. I guess by looking at the x-ray by the very back tooth, it looks funny because of excessive teeth clenching.

He turns to me and says, "Are you stressed?" I responded by saying no...but not everyone needs to know I have issues.

He gave me a speech about the affects of teeth clenching: increased cavities, sore jaw, chipped and/or broken teeth.

Anyway, do any of you go to the dentist and actually have the dentist ask you about your stress level based on your x-rays? It just caught my completely off guard.

 

[BloomInWinter]

I have severe bruxism and have for years. My teeth are now like baby teeth. [DLMURL]https://www.ptsdforum.org/c/threads/chalkdust.14642/page-9#post-189595[/DLMURL]

 

[Sammy]

Yup. My dentist also makes a comment about how much the insides of my cheeks are chewed up. I have a bite guard for the night but have thought about getting something for during the day. I chew gum a lot to protect my mouth at least a little. I have spent a fortune on broken teeth, crowns,etc.

 

[amethist]

I told my dentist I was grinding my teeth because of stress, but she told me there were no signs of it.

The following week half a filling fell out on one of the teeth I pointed out, and she had repaired.

Looking for another dentist now. :rolleyes:

 

[AngelKeeperJ]

This IS something to take serious! I clench my jaws at night, and in the day, when I can catch myself doing it. I lost most of my teeth because I couldn't afford the care required to keep them. One of the factors in me losing some of my teeth, was that it damaged the teeth at my gum-line root. After awhile, your teeth can crack.

I have to force myself to un-clench if I can catch me doing it. At night, no problem. I keep my teeth in a jar. LOL...NO ONE sees me without my teeth except my parents.

Seriously take care of the problem as soon as you can.:)

 

[Ted Moen]

I have had dentures since 1987, so I no longer have a problem with grinding my teeth at night. Prior to that it was not unusual for me to wake to broken teeth. Grinding your teeth is just one of those not uncommon PTSD symptoms. Most likely the symptom will not go away until you either work through your PTSD issues with a therapist or until you run out of teeth. I kind of wish they had had the kinds of therapies available today available in the 70s and 80s, but then having dentures isn't all bad :)

Ted

 

[Meadowsweet]

I have chipped and broken teeth from clenching them. I tend to mive my jaw or bite my cheek (gently) during the day. But I don't think there is any way to stop it during the night.

I don't think my dentist worries about why, she just fixes them.

 

[TeddySue]

I called him the sadist dentist. He took our insurance and so I was forced to see him. He would give me a shot and then go in the other room to talk to different people; I could hear him.

He would put all kinds of paper and cotton tubes in my mouth, and began his torture. It was not numb and I cried out; he told me to shut up because there were children in the waiting room. He made me feel like a welfare patient that he did not approve of.

His assistant told me that she finally told him how rude he was but it obviously didn't help. He was a man who took welfare insurance from the state; many people were forced to use him. I am SO thankful for our new insurance that allows us to pick a dentist of our choosing. That man was my worst nightmare.

 

[bethinhfx]

I actually have an appointment for a dentist this week and we are doing a consult first because I have so much anxiety about the dentist. Its partly financial because I don't have a lot of money and it is also because I have so much work to do. I have TMJ; need braces; and have come cosmetic stuff. I neglected my teeth for years. Growing up personal care stuff was just kind of neglected and I never got that part. I call it the " 25% rule now", which means that 25% of my life is about personal care- period, but my teeth did suffer and it makes me very sad and also makes me feel very powerless.

I tried to get some of it paid for by the health department here but NOPE so I do have a dental plan right now and I am going to take small steps. Spent thousands of dollars already; probably $4000-$5000 on root canals, cleaning, gum surgery, implant, and now I am working on a crown. I had an eating disorder for several years that contributed towards it. Its too bad that governments did not know more about abuse, and PTSD and addiction so that they would pay for some of this stuff! Its very distressing but I think I am winning the battle. I also wear a bite plate at night-- has made all of the difference! Good luck everyone! xoxoxooxox Beth

 

[piratelady]

But I don't think there is any way to stop it during the night.

I don't think my dentist worries about why, she just fixes them.

I was told they can make some kind of mouth guard that you wear while you sleep. It was really expensive, so I'm not going to do that.

 

[bethinhfx]

@piratelady: Re Mouth guard
You can actually get them at the drug store and I have had both; professional ones and the ones that you get at the drugstore and to be honest I think the ones at the drugstore $30 are as helpful as the ones I have paid $300 for! Beth

 

[Meadowsweet]

I just googled mouth guards. I hadn't realised they are so cheap. Although i don't think I could sleep with something in my mouth.