Jaw Disorders & Tooth Grinding | Dentistry on George

Custom Night Splints for Teeth Grinding: What to Expect

Kathryn Al-Dhafeeri — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 07:01:15 +0000

If grinding is wearing down or cracking your teeth, a custom night splint is usually the first thing we recommend. It’s simple, well-proven, and doesn’t involve anything invasive — but it’s worth knowing what’s actually involved before you commit to one.

What it is

A custom night splint — sometimes called an occlusal splint or night guard — is a hard, custom-fitted device worn while you sleep. It sits between your upper and lower teeth so the force of grinding is absorbed by the splint instead of your enamel, fillings, and crowns.

Custom-made 3D printed nylon mouth guard for tooth grinding

Custom vs chemist-bought

A splint fitted to your own bite stays comfortable through the night and is built to handle the forces you actually generate. A generic mouth guard is built to an average shape rather than your mouth — it’s often uncomfortable enough that people give up wearing it, and in some cases can encourage more clenching rather than less. If you’re going to wear something every night, it’s worth it being made for you.

Custom-made hard acrylic splints for tooth grinding

What the process actually involves

A digital scan of your teeth
Lab fabrication — your splint is custom-made from that scan by one of our local labs.
A fitting appointment to check comfort and fit, with small adjustments made on the spot if needed. You’ll also be given wear and care instructions.
Review appointment – sometimes booked if required.

There’s no downtime and nothing uncomfortable about the process itself. Most of the “getting used to it” happens in the first week or two of actually wearing it at night.

What it does — and doesn’t — do

A splint protects your teeth from the physical damage of grinding. It doesn’t stop the grinding habit itself, and it won’t do much for jaw muscle tension if that’s your main issue rather than tooth wear. For patients whose problem is more about jaw pain and tension headaches, a splint is often paired with other TMD treatment options. You can also read about managing TMD symptoms day-to-day.

Caring for your splint

Rinse it after use, brush it gently with a soft brush (regular toothpaste can be abrasive on the material), and keep it in its case when it’s not in your mouth. Bring it along to your regular check-ups so we can confirm it’s still fitting well — bites shift slightly over time, and a splint that no longer fits properly isn’t doing its job.

How long does one last?

With reasonable care, a hard custom splint typically lasts a few years before it needs replacing, though heavier grinders may wear through one faster. We’ll check it at your regular visits and let you know when it’s time for a new one.

What it costs

Cost varies depending on the type of splint and whether it’s part of a broader treatment plan. You will be given a full quote before proceeding with any treatment.

Is a night splint right for you?

If you’re waking up with a sore jaw, noticing new wear or chips, or we’ve flagged signs of grinding at a check-up, a custom splint is worth discussing. Book a consultation with our Brisbane CBD dentist to find out if it’s the right option for you.

The post Custom Night Splints for Teeth Grinding: What to Expect first appeared on Dentistry on George.

Cracked Tooth? What Now? Your Treatment Options Explained

Kathryn Al-Dhafeeri — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 05:20:27 +0000

First published: April 2025
Updated: Sept 2026

If you’ve bitten down and felt a sharp twinge, or a tooth has become sensitive when you chew, a crack may be the cause. The good news is that most cracked teeth can be treated. The right option depends on how deep the crack goes and where it is.

If you want to understand how cracks happen in the first place, read why teeth crack.

First step: working out how deep the crack goes

Not every crack needs treatment. Many fine crack lines in the enamel (sometimes called craze lines) are harmless and just need monitoring. Others go deeper into the tooth and need protecting before they spread.

At your appointment, we’ll examine the tooth, test how it responds to biting and temperature, and take x-rays if needed. Cracks don’t always show up on x-rays, so the examination and your symptoms matter just as much. Then we’ll talk you through your options, including the pros, cons and costs of each.

If you’re in pain now, see our emergency dentist page.

Treatment options, from simplest to most involved

1. Composite filling or bonding

Best for: small chips or cracks that only affect the outer layer of the tooth.

Tooth-coloured composite resin is bonded to the tooth and shaped to restore its form. It’s usually done in one visit.

Pros: quick, keeps most of your natural tooth, lower cost
Cons: less protection for deeper cracks, can stain or chip over time

2. Onlay

Best for: cracks involving one or more of the tooth’s biting cusps, where a filling isn’t strong enough but a full crown isn’t needed.

An onlay is a custom-made restoration that covers and protects the weakened part of the tooth while keeping more healthy tooth structure than a crown. Read more in crown vs onlay: how we decide.

Pros: strong, conservative, protects the cusps from flexing
Cons: usually needs two visits, costs more than a filling

3. Crown

Best for: larger cracks, or teeth that are already heavily filled.

A crown covers the whole biting surface of the tooth and holds it together, which reduces the risk of the crack spreading.

Pros: the most protection for a cracked tooth, restores function and appearance
Cons: removes more tooth structure, usually two visits, higher cost

4. Root canal treatment

Best for: cracks that have reached the nerve (the pulp) and caused inflammation or infection.

The damaged nerve is removed and the inside of the tooth is cleaned and sealed. A crown is usually needed afterwards to protect the tooth.

Pros: can allow you to keep the tooth
Cons: multiple visits, some tenderness afterwards, and the added cost of a crown

5. Extraction and replacement

Best for: cracks that extend below the gum line or split the tooth, where it can’t be saved.

Once the tooth is removed, it can be replaced with a dental implant or a bridge.

Pros: removes the source of pain or infection, with long-lasting replacement options
Cons: involves surgery and healing time, and replacement adds cost

What about veneers?

Veneers can improve the appearance of small cracks or chips on front teeth, but they don’t protect a tooth with a structural crack. If a front tooth is cracked, we’ll check how deep it goes before discussing cosmetic options.

Why earlier is better

A crack doesn’t heal on its own, and it can spread over time. Picked up early, it can often be managed with a filling or onlay. Left longer, it’s more likely to need a crown or root canal treatment. If a tooth is sore when you bite or sensitive to cold, it’s worth getting it checked sooner rather than later.

Reducing the risk of cracks

Avoid chewing hard things like ice, hard lollies or pens.
Wear a mouthguard for contact sports.
Protect against grinding. Grinding is one of the most common reasons we see cracked teeth. A custom night splint takes the load off your teeth. If you’re also getting jaw pain, read about our treatment for jaw clenching and grinding.
Keep up your regular check-ups, so we can spot crack lines before they cause problems.

Think you have a cracked tooth?

Book an appointment with our Brisbane CBD dentists, or call us on (07) 3211 1155.

The post Cracked Tooth? What Now? Your Treatment Options Explained first appeared on Dentistry on George.

Why Teeth Crack (and How to Reduce the Risk)

Kathryn Al-Dhafeeri — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 05:55:15 +0000

First published: February 2025
Updated: Sept 2026

Teeth are incredibly strong, but they’re not indestructible. A crack can come from a single hard bite, or it can build slowly over years of everyday wear. Knowing the common causes makes it much easier to protect your teeth, and to spot a problem early.

Signs you might have a cracked tooth

Cracks don’t always hurt, and they don’t always show up on an x-ray. Common signs include:

A sharp pain when you bite down, or when you release your bite
Sensitivity to cold that lingers
Pain that comes and goes, often hard to pin to one tooth
A rough edge or small chip you can feel with your tongue

If any of these sound familiar, here’s what’s involved in treating a cracked tooth.

Common causes of cracked teeth

1. Grinding and clenching (bruxism)

Grinding is one of the most common reasons we see cracked teeth. The forces involved are far greater than normal chewing, and they often happen for hours at night without you knowing. Over time, that repeated pressure creates crack lines that can deepen.

Reduce the risk: if you think you grind your teeth, mention it at your next check-up. A custom night splint takes the load off your teeth. Read more about what tooth grinding does to your teeth.

2. Large fillings

A tooth with a large filling has less natural tooth structure holding it together. The remaining walls of the tooth can flex under biting pressure, and over time that flexing can cause them to crack or break off. Older fillings can also wear down, leaving the tooth more exposed.

Reduce the risk: if a tooth is heavily filled, we may recommend an onlay or crown to cover and protect the weaker parts before they break. Read how we decide in crown vs onlay.

3. Biting on hard things

Ice, hard lollies, popcorn kernels, nut shells, pens, fingernails: one awkward bite on something hard can be enough to crack a tooth, especially one that’s already weakened.

Reduce the risk: avoid chewing ice and non-food items, and take care with very hard foods.

4. Injury or trauma

Falls, sporting knocks and accidents can crack teeth, sometimes in ways that aren’t obvious straight away.

Reduce the risk: wear a custom mouthguard for contact sports. If you’ve had a knock to the mouth, get your teeth checked even if they feel fine.

5. Untreated decay

Decay weakens a tooth from the inside, often well before you notice anything. By the time a cavity is causing symptoms, it’s usually quite large, and the tooth around it is more likely to break.

Reduce the risk: regular check-ups and x-rays pick up decay early, while it can still be treated with a smaller filling.

6. Age and wear

Over the years, teeth go through a lot of biting, chewing and wear. Enamel gets thinner and teeth become a little less flexible, so cracks become more common as we get older.

Reduce the risk: brush with fluoride toothpaste and a soft toothbrush, and keep acidic foods and drinks to mealtimes to protect your enamel.

7. Extreme temperature changes

Going from very hot to very cold food or drinks makes teeth expand and contract slightly. This probably isn’t a major cause on its own, but it can add stress to teeth that already have crack lines.

Why early checks matter

Many cracks start small and can be managed simply if they’re picked up early, sometimes with a filling or onlay. Left longer, a crack is more likely to spread and need more involved treatment. Regular check-ups give us the chance to spot crack lines and weakened teeth before they cause problems.

Worried about a cracked tooth?

If a tooth is sore when you bite or sensitive to cold, book an appointment with our Brisbane CBD dentists. If you’re in pain now, see our emergency dentist page or call us on (07) 3211 1155.

The post Why Teeth Crack (and How to Reduce the Risk) first appeared on Dentistry on George.

5 Signs You’re Grinding Your Teeth (Even If You Don’t Know It)

Kathryn Al-Dhafeeri — Wed, 23 Aug 2023 01:26:04 +0000

First published: August 2023
Updated: Sept 2026

Most people who grind their teeth find out from someone else first — a partner nudging them awake, or us mentioning it at a check-up before they’ve noticed a thing themselves. It’s one of the most common things we see, and one of the easiest to miss in yourself. Here’s what to look out for.

1. Morning jaw soreness or headaches

If your jaw feels tired or tight when you wake up, or you’re getting headaches that centre around your temples first thing in the morning, that’s a classic pattern. Your jaw muscles have been working hard all night without you knowing.

2. Wear, chips, or cracks you can’t explain

A flattened biting edge, a small chip that “just happened,” or a filling that’s cracked for no obvious reason — these are the kind of things we check for at every appointment, because grinding is often part of the reason. Read more on why teeth crack.

3. Symptoms that seem to come from somewhere else entirely

Toothache with no cavity in sight. Tooth sensitivity that comes and goes. Neck and shoulder tightness. Even ear discomfort, when a hearing test comes back completely normal. Grinding can sit behind all of these, because the muscles involved connect to more of your head and neck than most people realise.

4. Daytime clenching you’ve never clocked

Night-time grinding gets most of the attention, but plenty of people clench during the day too — while concentrating at a desk, driving, or under stress — without ever noticing they’re doing it. If your jaw feels tight by the end of a busy day, it’s worth paying attention to.

5. A partner mentioning the noise

If someone’s told you that you grind at night, believe them — even if you’ve never felt a thing. Audible grinding is one of the more reliable signs, and it’s worth raising at your next check-up so we can have a proper look.

Is it linked to anything else?

Sometimes, yes. Night-time grinding can go hand-in-hand with sleep apnoea — if you also snore, gasp, or wake up tired despite a full night’s sleep, it’s worth mentioning to your GP. We don’t diagnose sleep apnoea ourselves (that needs a formal sleep study), but if you’re already diagnosed, we can fit a custom oral appliance as part of managing it. Read more on our Snoring and Sleep Apnoea page.

The causes behind grinding are usually more than one thing at once — stress, sleep, certain medications, caffeine and alcohol timing, or a daytime habit you’ve picked up without realising. That’s why we start by figuring out what’s actually driving it, rather than assuming it’s just “stress.”

What this doesn’t mean

None of this means grinding is automatically a serious problem — plenty of cases are mild and easy to manage once you know it’s happening. But if a few of these sound familiar, it’s worth getting your bite and jaw checked rather than waiting for a cracked tooth to force the issue.

Where to go from here:

Want to know what grinding does to your teeth over time? Read What Tooth Grinding Does to Your Teeth.
Thinking about a night splint? Here’s what to expect from a custom night splint.

For the full picture see our TMD treatment options.

Book a consultation with our Brisbane CBD dental team if any of this sounds like you.

The post 5 Signs You’re Grinding Your Teeth (Even If You Don’t Know It) first appeared on Dentistry on George.

What Tooth Grinding Does to Your Teeth (and How to Protect Them)

dogwebsitestg — Mon, 06 Jul 2020 00:00:08 +0000

First published: July 2020
Updated: Sept 2026

Most people think of grinding as a jaw problem. But your teeth take the brunt of it. The forces involved in clenching and grinding are far greater than normal chewing, and they’re often happening for hours every night without you knowing.

The good news is that the damage builds slowly, so it can usually be picked up early at a check-up and protected against.

What is bruxism?

Bruxism is the medical term for clenching or grinding your teeth. It most often happens while you’re asleep (sleep bruxism), but it can happen during the day too, often when you’re concentrating or stressed.

If you’re not sure whether you grind, here are 5 signs you’re grinding your teeth (even if you don’t know it).

What grinding does to your teeth

Wear

Enamel is the hardest substance in your body, but it isn’t designed to rub against itself for hours at a time. Over time, grinding flattens the biting edges of your teeth. Front teeth can start to look shorter or uneven, and back teeth lose their natural grooves. Once enamel is worn away, it doesn’t grow back.

Sensitivity

As enamel wears thinner, the softer layer underneath (called dentine) gets closer to the surface. Dentine has tiny channels that lead towards the nerve, so worn teeth often feel sensitive to cold, hot or sweet things, sometimes across the whole mouth rather than just one tooth.

Crack lines and cracked teeth

Repeated pressure can create fine crack lines in the enamel. Many of these stay harmless, but some can deepen over time. A cracked tooth is a bit like a crack in your windscreen: it may stay stable for years, or it may spread, and it’s hard to predict when or in which direction. If a crack reaches the nerve, the tooth may need a root canal treatment, or occasionally it can’t be saved.

This is why we keep an eye on crack lines at your check-ups. Picking them up early gives you more options. Read more about why teeth crack.

Chipped teeth and broken fillings

Heavy grinding forces can chip the edges of teeth, and fillings, crowns and veneers are vulnerable too. If you’ve had a filling break more than once, or chips keep appearing, grinding is often part of the reason.

Loose or tender teeth

Constant pressure can strain the supporting structures around the teeth, so some people notice their teeth feel tender or slightly loose, especially in the morning.

Why protecting your teeth matters

Wear and cracks are much easier to manage before they cause pain or need bigger treatment. Repairing worn or broken teeth can involve fillings, crowns or onlays, and if grinding continues unprotected, that work is at risk too.

How we protect your teeth

We can’t stop you from grinding. What we can do is take the load off your teeth. A custom hard splint (a night guard worn while you sleep) sits between your upper and lower teeth, so the splint takes the wear instead of your enamel and dental work.

We use hard acrylic splints, custom-made from a scan of your teeth, because they’re durable and hold their shape well. Here’s what to expect from a custom night splint.

When grinding is more than a teeth problem

Grinding can also cause jaw pain, headaches and earache, and night-time grinding can be linked to sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnoea.

If jaw pain or headaches are part of the picture, see how we approach TMD and jaw pain treatment.

Worried about wear or cracks?

If your teeth are looking shorter, feeling sensitive, or you’ve had chips or broken fillings, it’s worth having them checked. Book an appointment with our Brisbane CBD dentists.

The post What Tooth Grinding Does to Your Teeth (and How to Protect Them) first appeared on Dentistry on George.

Managing Bruxism & TMD Day-to-Day: My Own Experience

dogwebsitestg — Mon, 03 Sep 2018 00:00:54 +0000

First published: Sept 2018
Updated: Sept 2026

I’ve dealt with bruxism and TMD since university — bad enough at times that headaches and jaw pain genuinely got in the way of studying. It’s part of why I take it seriously with patients, and why I know first-hand that “just relax” isn’t much use as advice on its own.

Written by Dr Kathryn Al-Dhafeeri, Dentist

What is Bruxism and How Does It Affect You?

Bruxism is the habit of clenching or grinding your teeth, often without realising it. It can happen during the day (sometimes triggered by stress or concentration) or at night while you sleep. Left unmanaged, bruxism can cause:

Jaw pain or tightness
Headaches and facial pain
Earaches or neck pain
Tooth wear, chipping or cracking

Not sure if you grind? Here are 5 signs you’re grinding your teeth (even if you don’t know it).

What is TMD?

TMD (temporomandibular disorder) affects the jaw joint and the muscles around it. Common causes include:

Clenching or grinding your teeth (bruxism)
Straining the jaw muscles, such as biting nails, chewing pens or taking large bites
Overusing the joint through excessive gum chewing, wide yawning or tough foods

Causes of Tooth Grinding

Bruxism usually comes down to more than one factor:

Stress and anxiety — common triggers for daytime clenching
Sleep disorders — night-time grinding can be linked to airway issues
Jaw habits and overuse — chewing gum or biting hard foods
Lifestyle factors — caffeine, alcohol and some medications can make it worse

It’s important to understand that you often can’t just “stop” grinding your teeth. Managing it is about reducing the triggers and protecting your teeth.

How I Manage My Bruxism

Over the years, these are the strategies that have helped me most with flare-ups:

Stress management. Exercise is the biggest lever for me. When I’m not moving regularly, the clenching gets noticeably worse.
Heat therapy. A warm compress on the jaw muscles at the end of the day eases tension before it builds up overnight.
Jaw awareness and gentle exercises. I check whether my teeth are touching at rest (they shouldn’t be) and do simple jaw stretches.
Avoiding hard or chewy foods. When my jaw’s already feeling tight, there’s no point adding fuel to it.
Physio, when it’s more than I can manage myself. If your jaw muscles are very tight or painful, a physiotherapist who works with jaw/TMD patients can help in a way self-care alone doesn’t.

Why Early Treatment Matters

I chipped a tooth before I got serious about managing this, which is what finally got me into a custom hard splint. It protects my teeth, though it doesn’t touch the muscle tension itself.

Over time, untreated grinding can damage your teeth. They may:

Wear down and shorten
Chip or crack
Shift in alignment as the jaw compensates

For more detail, I’ve written about what tooth grinding does to your teeth.

More than just teeth

If you’re noticing tooth grinding, jaw pain, headaches or snoring, it’s worth getting checked early. That usually means simpler, less expensive treatment.

Grinding can be linked to obstructive sleep apnoea, so if a sleep disorder is suspected, we may refer you to a sleep physician.

For children who grind their teeth or snore, it’s also worth having them checked. These can be signs of airway problems such as enlarged tonsils or adenoids, or a narrow palate.

Takeaway

Bruxism is common, and it’s manageable. With early detection, lifestyle changes and treatments like dental splints, you can protect your teeth, help manage jaw pain and reduce the risk of long-term damage. See how we approach TMD treatment in Brisbane CBD.

If you’re noticing any of these signs, book a consultation with our Brisbane CBD dentists.

The post Managing Bruxism & TMD Day-to-Day: My Own Experience first appeared on Dentistry on George.