Could Grinding My Teeth Prevent Me From Having Dental Implants?
Here at Sheen Dental we’re placing more dental implants in Richmond than ever before as patients are increasingly taking advantage of the many benefits that implants have to offer. They are the closest thing to natural teeth and replicate the entire structure, and as such they look and function in a very similar fashion. Implants don’t come cheap however and in order to maximise your investment, it makes sense to know about any conditions which could compromise the device.
One such condition which has the potential to impact on the success of a dental implant is bruxism or the grinding of teeth. Just as bruxism causes wear and tear to natural teeth so it can damage prosthetic crowns and cause them to deteriorate. What’s more grinding the teeth places more pressure on the implant (which acts like a tooth root) than it is designed to withstand. Although the devices involved in implant dentistry are designed to be durable, bruxism can have a negative impact on the implant’s prosthetic components, namely the abutment connection and the crown.
The good news is that bruxism doesn’t have to mean that you won’t be able to get a dental implant. There is treatment available. During the initial consultation, you’ll be examined by the oral surgeon for any signs of teeth grinding and he’ll ask you questions about any symptoms you may be experiencing. You’ll also be given a chance to discuss various treatment options to combat the bruxism.
One of the causes for bruxism is stress and so it may be suggested that you learn some stress management techniques to keep the teeth grinding in check. Another suggestion could be that you wear a mouth guard at night when you go to bed which will prevent you from being able to grind your teeth.
Quite often a person is unaware that they grind their teeth and only find out when their partner informs them that they’ve doing it and disturbing their sleep. Apart from signs of wear on the teeth, a patient may be suffering from unexplained jaw pain or headaches which all point to bruxism taking place.
If you are aware that you suffer from bruxism then please mention it during your consultation so that the surgeon can make plans accordingly. They may suggest various ways to get the situation under control to reduce the risk of you damaging your implants. If you’d like to find out more about getting a dental implant in Richmond then give the clinic a call on 020 8876 5277 to schedule a consultation. Alternatively you can find more information on our website at www.sheendentalimplants.co.uk/