severe bruxism question. I grind my teeth bad..doctor said worst she has seen..now my gum is higher than them

Question

and it is hurting and feeling odd. The filling material she uses just wears down in 3 or 4 months as she can't use the harder stuff on the front teeth and I can't afford a cap on it.

Can the gum between the two teeth be cut off so it is lower than the teeth. Would this be harmful or excessively painful after a few days?

I hate to tell her to pull it as it is a bottom tooth that will show but it feels real awful. It was painful but now feels more like a big something it stuck in my teeth or gums and it is very annoying whenever I close my mouth.

Any advice. I guess bruxism is associated with sleep apnea which I have or so I read. I use a mouth guard to sleep.

Answer 1

HELLO JANIE,

WHAT YOU MUST ABSOLUTELY GET TO STOP GRINDING ONCE AND FOREVER IS AN N.T.I. BRUXISM APPLIANCE.
WHY?
BECAUSE MOUTH GUARDS DON'T DEAL WITH THE REASONS FOR THE GRINDING INITIALLY. THEY DON'T ADDRESS THE MUSCLE HYPERACTIVITY WHICH CAUSES GRINDING IN THE FIRST PLACE. NO MOUTH GUARD WILL STOP THE GRINDING, BUT THIS APPLIANCE WILL VERY QUICKLY AND EFFECTIVELY.
ASK YOUR DENTIST TO MAKE ONE FOR YOU.

Answer 2

Hey there, I would definitely get a splint done, it is like a mouth guard but is much harder it will stop you from wearing the tooth down even more. If you cut the gum away that just means that you will expose the part of the tooth that is not covered by enamel called dentine, this will cause the tooth to be severely sensitive and prone to decay as dentine is the softer part of the tooth. I know it is expensive to get a cap done, but in the long run that might be the best option for you, maybe you can work out some sort of payment plan.