• Certain types dental malocclusion
• Crooked or crowded teeth
• Missing teeth that are key players in keeping the teeth in balanced position
• Trauma to jaw 
• Sleep apnea
• Our teeth and facial muscles work in natural harmony as a team so we can chew our food efficiently and smile effortlessly. When the teeth, or the facial muscles or both undergo an abnormal stress, such as a blow to the chin, this harmony is broken.  
• Then the teeth from one dental arch cannot find its partner from the other dental arch in the same position where they used to be.  As the teeth try to move around until they find the partner, an abnormal stress is felt by the facial muscles.  The muscles will then try to pull themselves to get into the relaxed position, but this displaces the teeth from their happy medium.  So a tug of war between the teeth and the facial muscles begins. 

• Very loud grinding noise during sleep so that the family members could hear it 
• Abnormally flat teeth with missing tooth enamel
• Fractured teeth
• Pain in jaw joints
• Headaches and neck pain at the end of the day
• Waking up tired every day with pain in the neck muscles

The dentist can properly diagnose bruxism during regular check-up visits. Bruxism is a condition that can be alleviated but cannot be reversed.

• Occlusal guards or night guards or a bite splint are the most common  treatment and least costly compared to an invasive surgery. It can be made in different types of plastic and thickness, depending on the type of bruxism you have been diagnosed with. An occlusal guard made by the dentist will always fit best. You dentist will take the impression or the mold of your teeth  then have a professional dental laboratory make an occlusal guard with the type of plastic that is specific for your type of bruxism. Before you take it home, the dentist will check the occlusal guard for a proper fit to your mouth, and customize it so you can wear it comfortably. Depending on how severe your bruxism is, you will need to replace the occlusal guard, because it will become thin or get holes from the use.
• Occlusal Analysis is another method used for bruxism and more effective. You will still need an occlusal guard while in this type of treatment. This method rehabilitates your muscles instead if giving you a temporary crutch- an occlusal guard.

Your dentist will take the impression of your teeth, measure the position of your facial muscles and teeth position, then have it mounted and analyzed by the speciality professional dental lab, then using the analyzed dtarestoring the positionl he most harmonious for both the teeth and the muscles.  It will be  followed by adjustment of certain teeth directly in your mouth to allow facial muscles into a more relaxed state and work with your teeth again.

• Muscle relaxers may also be prescribed​ for acute pain.
• Restoring the lost tooth structure to ideal dental occlusion after the harmony is re-established gives results with higher success.