When the COVID-19 pandemic first became rampant, thousands of dental practices, including our dentist in Andersonville, closed, except for emergency procedures. Now that we’ve reopened, we’re seeing a strange uptick in a number of dental problems, especially cracked, fractured teeth.
What’s Happening?
- One obvious answer to the surge of patients seeking treatment for fractured teeth is stress. Pandemic-related stress is affecting the collective mental health of millions of Americans, which in turn, often leads to clenching and grinding that damages teeth.
- Complicating the situation further, many are now working long hours at home at makeshift workstations, leading to poor posture that places pressure on nerves in the neck, shoulder muscles and the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). The end result of daytime hours of poor posture and pressure can be grinding at night.
- Lastly, due to stress many are not getting the restorative sleep we all need. Instead, our bodies are staying in a clench-jawed, battle-ready state of arousal, and all that tension goes straight to the teeth.
Possible Solutions
- Make a conscious effort to keep your teeth separate except when chewing food. If you don’t already have one, consider getting a retainer or night guard from your dentist to help keep your teeth apart.
- Avoid poor work posture by adjusting your home workstation so your computer screen is at eye level.
- No matter how small your workspace, get up and move periodically, as every step counts.
Visit Your Dentist in Andersonville
Finally, remember that at Northalsted Dental Spa we maintain the strictest anti-COVID-19 safety standards, including a state-of-the-art Surgically Clean Air filtration system. If you need dental treatment, from exams and cleanings to cosmetic procedures, contact Northalsted Dental Spa either online or at 773-985-1181.
