(By Dr. Joseph D. Lim and Dr. Kenneth Lester Lim, BS-MMG, DDM, MSc-OI)
THE NUMBER of patients with grinding issues are rising, The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper reports
It is painful news. The symptoms include broken fillings, cracked teeth and sore jaws.
Australian dentists believe the pandemic and the stress and anxiety it has brought during long lockdowns are to blame.
That is, lockdowns have caused many people to grind their teeth. For nearly two years now, many of these people have not seen their dentist for routine check-ups too, passing over the chance to remedy the symptoms of bruxism – the excessive grinding or clenching of their teeth.
“Public health dental waiting lists have blown out across the country, with many vulnerable patients asked to wait years for a taxpayer-funded appointment, meaning their dental issues only get worse,” The Sydney Morning Herald reports.
“Dentists are warning of a new ‘pandemic of rotten and broken teeth’ as cases of teeth grinding soar, and some of the most disadvantaged Australians are left waiting years for treatment,” the newspaper observes.
Many patients lost teeth in the meanwhile. Gum diseases requiring root canals and teeth extractions increased. Many too required implants or dentures when dental clinics did open.
“There’s going to be the new pandemic of people with rotten teeth or broken teeth,” said Dr. Jeremy Sternson, President of the Australian Dental Association (ADA).
Patients with bruxism were reporting to clinics in record numbers, according to Dr. Michael Jonas, President of the ADA New South Wales.
“I’m seeing it, and my colleagues in Sydney are seeing it. Our waiting times have certainly blown out, and the average wait time to see a public dentist is now between eighteen months and two years in New South Wales.”
“People have got to the stage where they’re losing teeth, they’ve lost a lot of bone around the teeth. They’re going to start needing things like dentures or implants or some sort of prosthetics just to be able to function,” said Dr. Sternson.
The number of bruxism cases he treated pre-pandemic was modest, the dentist of 25 years experience told the newspaper. Now, he sees several patients each week, many of saying bruxism was a new experience.
“Even today, I’ve seen a few people who had some small holes just before the pandemic was declared, couldn’t get in for two years, and now they are bordering on having root canals or teeth extracted,” Dr. Sternson told Melissa Cunningham of The Sydney Morning Herald.
“There has been a huge demand. A lot of it is to do with the stress and anxiety that people have experienced during the pandemic and during the last lockdowns that has seen them grinding their teeth.
“It has blown out ridiculously. We are all crazy-busy.”
Stress and anxiety can cause people to grind their teeth in their sleep, writes Ms. Cunningham. “Smoking, heavy alcohol intake and recreational drug use can exacerbate it further. Daytime grinding generally happens when people are busy or stressed.
“Failure to treat the issue can lead to jaw disorders, broken or worn-down teeth, headaches, gum disease and other problems.
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Dr. Joseph D. Lim is the former Associate Dean of the College of Dentistry, University of the East; former Dean, College of Dentistry, National University; Past President and Honorary Fellow of the Asian Oral Implant Academy; Honorary Fellow of the Japan College of Oral Implantologists; and Honorary Life Member of the Thai Association of Dental Implantology. For questions on dental health, e-mail jdlim2008@gmail.com or text 0917-8591515.
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Dr. Kenneth Lester Lim, BS-MMG, DDM, MSc-OI, graduated Doctor of Dental Medicine, University of the Philippines College of Dentistry, Manila, 2011; Bachelor of Science in Marketing Management, De la Salle University, Manila, 2002; and Master of Science (MSc.) in Oral Implantology, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany, 2019. He is an Associate professor; Fellow, International Congress of Oral Implantologists; Member, American Academy of Implant Dentistry and Philippine College of Oral Implantologists. For questions on dental health, e-mail limdentalcenter@gmail.com/PN
