Commuter Clenching
By Dr. Linda Niessen -- Baylor College of Dentistry STORY: COMMUTER CLENCHING SCRIPT #513 SHOOT: 5-20-03 AIRDATE: Monday, June 16, 2003
Monday, June 16, 2003
Here's a new health problem. Commuter clenching. What is it and how dangerous can it be? Dr. Linda Niessen with Baylor College of Dentistry has some answers in today's segment of Dental Health Check.
A new job requires Stacey Dees to drive an hour each day to get to the office. "That can be quite stressful. In addition to the traffic, it's just frustrating to know of all the things I could be doing. I think that's where the stress comes from. I have two small children so I'm anxious to get home."
During her one hour commute, Stacey started a habit she was completely unaware of--clenching her teeth. The stress took its toll, specifically on a bi-cuspid tooth!
"Just a crack right down the middle of the tooth. It had to come out and I didn't expect that. That was pretty traumatic."
"(Stacy's) bicuspid split right down the middle and was totally destroyed. Lots of patients don't realize they are doing it." Dr. T. Bob Davis says he is seeing more grinding and clenching problems than ever before.
"I hold a lot of stress up here in my neck," said Stacy. "That makes a lot of sense that it can just keep going up."
Stacey now drives with a custom made mouth guard that protects her teeth during the long commute. Plus, she worked out a new arrangement with her employer. "I had negotiated a work at home arrangement three days a week after the first month."
Daytime clenching may be as common as nighttime grinding. So you may need to take a detour to your dentist.
If you've noticed that you clench during the day or at night, don't wait until you fracture a tooth. Look into a custom mouth guard that you can wear during those unavoidable stressful activities such as commuting. For Baylor College of Dentistry, Texas A & M System, I'm Dr. Linda Niessen, Channel 8 News.
Dr. Linda Niessen, clinical professor in the Department of Restorative Sciences and the Office of Communications and Development at Baylor College of Dentistry, hosts Dental Health Check, the only weekly dental feature shot on location in the nation.
