River, I really miss those posts between you, Cindy, DM, yeahbut, Taffy and the others. I grinned as soon as I saw your post on this thread....because I knew it'd have some of those familiar icons ya'll used to use! Gotta love that opening line!

I had to edit that post because it needed a spce so she could get the full effect of the "Dead Horse Beating"!!!

Add me to the list of ruined teeth. I spend about l/5 of my yearly income now on dentistry. Sometimes more than l/5. I will get my 9th and 10th implants in August (the ceramic tops, the posts are already in). I have nice strong jaw bones and that's one blessing...they hold implants very well. But they cost too much.
I clenched teeth for years, and tried wearing one of those prothesis, but the plastic drove me crazy. I drooled in defiance of the plastic all night. I gave up. I learned to psych myself out to relax that part of my body at night and I think it finally worked. I still have night spasms, especially in my legs and back. And I have day spasms if I take drugs which are bad for my other disease, Porphyria. The day spasms are in my upper back and shoulders. So I probably grind my teeth during those day spasms, not so much at night, as I now have myself trained to sleep with my mouth slightly ajar. I have no one around to notice my mouth if open--no husband any more--but I don't open it really wide anyway, but that sort of worked for me. Also probably subconscious fear of the cost of implants. I too have my teeth cleaned every 3 or 4 months.

Just thought I'd bump this thread up because it's so relevant to those of us with spasticity.

I noticed I was clenching my teeth this past weekend when I walked. I'm sure I've been doing it long before this weekend but I really noticed it this weekend when I cracked a molar on the upper right side. No pain.....just the fact that I cracked it tells me it's just a matter of time before it breaks. Luckily there is no filling in it.

I have no dental insurance......just Medicare. I need to check and see if this qualifies as a medical issue. It does for me but not sure if it's viewed that way by Medicare.

Just one more thing to think about...............

Sorry about that Kelly. I hope it can be fixed without costing
an arm and a leg. Isn't there an insert that you can wear
now, to cushion your teeth from gritting damage?

Thanks for bringing this to our attention again.