There are three phases of management of
Dental Compression Syndrome.
- Education
- Equilibration
- Guard Therapy
Education
If you observe signs of DCS in your mouth, it does not
necessarily mean that you are currently compressing your teeth.
It may be the result of a prior period of stress in your life.
So you have to evaluate the list of symptoms.
- Are your teeth sensitive to cold food and liquids?
- Do you wake up with headaches?
- Are the muscles in the side of your face uncomfortable?
- Do teeth require root canals when there is no cavity?
- Is your TMJ tender or make noise when you open or close?
- Are your teeth together the majority of time?
Dentists have a little saying, "Lips together, teeth
apart," to remind patients that when the mandible is
relaxed, the teeth should not touch.
Teeth do not touch when we talk and rarely touch when we eat,
but solidly touch when we swallow. The most comfortable patient
seldom has his or her teeth together.
If you determine that you are actively grinding your teeth,
what is the next step? To properly manage DCS you have to
evaluate the problem not only from a stress or psychological
perspective, but also from an engineering point of view.
Equilibration
