In this episode of MedSpa Mayhem, the conversation explores the phenomenon of teeth grinding and clenching, also known as bruxism, and its growing prevalence since the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Dee is joined by endodontics specialist Rachelle Cohen, DMD, who discusses the significant dental issues arising from bruxism, such as cracked teeth and infections. The episode delves into the potential causes behind this dental stress, including the durability of older silver fillings, stress, and the side effects of common antidepressants. They also evaluate various treatments, focusing on night guards and the increasingly accepted use of Botox to mitigate the grinding force, reduce muscle size, and potentially train individuals to stop grinding altogether, which could save both money and dental damage in the long term.

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Glow Medispa in Seattle, WA

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Dr. Rachelle Cohen at West Seattle Endodontics

Takeaways

• Teeth grinding and clenching is very common, especially after the COVID pandemic

• Teeth grinding, left untreated, can lead to cracked teeth, infection and even hospitalization

• Treatments for cracked teeth and implants can be very expensive

• Botox and Dysport are effective treatments for bruxism, and can lessen or even stop grinding entirely

• Wearing a night guard is highly recommended to protect teeth from damage

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Teeth Grinding Issues

01:09 Meet Rachelle Cohen: Endodontics Specialist

01:56 Understanding Bruxism and Its Impact

02:08 COVID-19 and the Surge in Cracked Teeth

02:54 The Role of Stress and Fillings in Teeth Damage

05:15 Identifying Teeth Grinding Symptoms

10:09 Night Guards: First Line of Defense

11:41 Botox as a Treatment for Teeth Grinding

17:15 Cost Considerations and Effectiveness

21:35 Conclusion and Final Thoughts