Unconscious teeth grinding and clenching, otherwise known as bruxism, is a common problem. In fact, it afflicts up to 8% of middle-aged adults. If you are among those who suffer from bruxism and you have one or more missing teeth, it is natural to wonder if your condition will affect your candidacy for tooth replacement. There is good news! Even though teeth grinding presents some risks for dental implants, it will not automatically preclude you from getting them. This blog post further explains the relationship between bruxism and dental implants.
How Bruxism Can Affect Dental Implants
Dental implants are remarkably tough. However, similar to natural teeth, they are not impervious to the damage that bruxism can cause. If you grind your teeth while you are asleep, you have no control over how much force your upper and lower teeth exert on one another — for some people, their nighttime grinding may expose their teeth to up to 250 pounds of force! That number is especially concerning when you note that normal chewing usually exerts just 70 pounds of force.
It is no wonder that bruxism has the potential to cause serious damage to the restorations on top of dental implants. This means you might end up having to replace your crowns, bridges, or dentures more often than you anticipated. Even more concerning is the fact that the continuous force created by bruxism could damage the bone around your dental implants, perhaps causing the implants to become loose or failure altogether.
Protecting Your Dental Implants from Bruxism
There are a few ways to reduce the risk that your bruxism will cause serious damage to your dental implants:
- Talk to your dentist. Your dentist will look for signs of bruxism during your dental implant consultation. They can create a plan to help you manage the problem. They might recommend that you start using a custom nightguard to prevent your upper and lower teeth from contacting each other while you sleep. They might also encourage you to seek treatment for TMJ disorder if necessary.
- Manage your stress. A stressful lifestyle is associated with an increased risk of bruxism. Doing everything possible to manage your emotional health may benefit your oral health as well.
- Attend regular checkups. After you receive dental implants, you should visit your dentist at least twice a year. They will monitor your implants and their restoration for signs of damage. If necessary, they may provide interventive treatment or adjust your bruxism management plan.
Bruxism is a serious oral health issue, but it does not have to ruin your smile or prevent you from getting dental implants in Hamden. Your dentist is ready to help you learn about your options for tooth replacement and get you on the road to once again owning a complete, healthy smile.
Meet the Practice
New Haven Dental group in Hamden is a full-service dental practice that boasts a team of general dentists and specialists. If you have questions about tooth replacement or bruxism, they would be pleased to speak with you. Contact our office at 203-587-7327.