By: Dr. Elizabeth Eggert
Have you been struggling with frequent headaches, jaw soreness, chipped or cracked teeth, neck or shoulder pain, or even difficulty sleeping? You may be surprised to learn that these problems can sometimes be connected to the way your teeth, jaw joints, and muscles work together. At Eggert Family Dentistry in North Oaks, MN, Dr. Elizabeth Eggert and Dr. Jeff Eggert believe that before recommending treatment, it’s important to understand why these symptoms are occurring. That’s why many patients begin with the Records Process—a comprehensive evaluation that helps uncover the underlying cause of your discomfort and allows your treatment to be tailored specifically to you.
The Records Process is often recommended if you experience headaches, snoring or sleep apnea, jaw soreness after chewing or waking up, unexplained shoulder, neck, or back pain, difficulty sleeping, excessive tooth wear, cracked or sensitive teeth, pronounced gum recession, or if you’re considering extensive restorative or cosmetic dental treatment simply to make your smile look better. During your appointment, Dr. Eggert will evaluate how your muscles, jaw joints, and teeth function together. They will take photographs of your teeth, impressions to study your bite, and gather detailed information about how your entire chewing system works. With these records, Dr. Elizabeth Eggert or Dr. Jeff Eggert will develop a personalized “tour of your mouth,” helping you understand what is happening and why certain treatment options may be recommended.
Sometimes the functional analysis performed during the Records Process reveals a stable, repeatable bite position. Other times, however, the results are inconsistent. When your muscles and jaw joints cannot consistently guide your teeth into the same comfortable position, it often indicates that your chewing system is under stress. In these situations, Dr. Elizabeth Eggert and Dr. Jeff Eggert frequently recommend splint therapy before making any permanent changes to your teeth. Splint therapy helps your jaw muscles relax and allows your jaw to find a comfortable, repeatable position. Once that stable position is established, treatment decisions become much more predictable.
Habitual clenching and grinding can contribute to muscle fatigue, jaw joint discomfort, worn or fractured teeth, headaches, and even damage to existing dental work. Many people don’t realize they clench because it often occurs while sleeping or during stressful moments throughout the day. In some cases, clenching and grinding may even be related to airway concerns, as your body may unconsciously strain the chewing muscles in an effort to improve airflow during sleep. Depending on what your Records Process reveals, we may recommend different types of splint therapy. Some appliances are designed primarily to relax overworked muscles, while others better stabilize the jaw joints or help determine whether airway issues are contributing to your symptoms. Selecting the appropriate splint depends entirely on your diagnosis, not simply on your symptoms.
One of the most important things to understand is that splint therapy is often a diagnostic and therapeutic step—not the final treatment itself. Once your muscles and jaw joints become comfortable and stable, your teeth may fit together differently than they did before. This provides invaluable information that allows Dr. Elizabeth Eggert and Dr. Jeff Eggert to recommend the best long-term solution for your smile. Depending on your needs, that may involve carefully adjusting your bite through equilibration, moving teeth with Invisalign® or orthodontics, restoring worn or damaged teeth, or combining several treatments to create harmony between your teeth, muscles, and jaw joints.
At Eggert Family Dentistry, our goal is not simply to treat symptoms—it’s to help you understand what’s causing them. Many patients are amazed to discover that chronic discomfort, worn teeth, or even cosmetic concerns improve significantly once the teeth and jaw are functioning in harmony. By beginning with the Records Process and recommending splint therapy as appropriate, Dr. Elizabeth Eggert and Dr. Jeff Eggert can create a treatment plan based on careful diagnosis rather than guesswork. The result is a healthier, more comfortable bite, a more confident smile, and a treatment plan designed specifically for you. If you’re ready to take the next step to a healthier you, call (or text) us today! 651-482-8412!