How To Repair Teeth Grinding Damage

Many people grind their teeth at some point in their lives, whether it's from stress or grinding out of a bad habit. While occasional tooth grinding may not cause any damage, excessive or prolonged grinding can lead to serious problems like jaw pain, headaches, and tooth damage.

Teeth grinding, also known as bruxism, is a condition that causes teeth to be worn down and damaged due to continuous teeth-on-teeth contact. In many cases, the teeth become so worn that restorative treatments are necessary in order to restore the patient’s bite and jaw alignment.

In this post, we'll outline some of the ways to repair teeth grinding damage.

Mouthguards

Although restorative dentistry can fix many bruxism-inflicted problems, it's unwise to undergo this treatment without first trying to understand the condition and break the addictive behavior. If you don't do either of those things and just get corrective dental work done, you may damage the fixes. And if you continue grinding your teeth excessively after getting restorations, they will likely need further treatments, which will only add more stress to your plate.

The two most common ways to stop teeth grinding are mouthguards and mouth splints. Mouthguards are thin, plastic sheets that fit over your teeth and prevent them from directly grinding against each other. Mouth Splints are smaller than mouthguards, but they're thicker and last longer.

Crowns

Dental crowns are protective covers that fit over a damaged tooth. Those who suffer from bruxism commonly wear down the tooth's enamel, causing cracks or breaks in the surface. By using a crown, it keeps any remaining enamel from wearing away and therefore reduces the likelihood of further decay or losing/needing to remove said damaged tooth or teeth.

Veneers

Veneers are different from crowns in that they only attach to the front of the teeth. They are thin porcelain sheets used to restore and protect a damaged smile. Veneers can be less invasive than crowns, but patients need to consider how durable they are. They chip and wear out faster than crowns do, which is something bruxism patients should take into account before deciding on this treatment option.

Bonding

Dental bonding is a popular procedure among patients who suffer from teeth grinding because it is an affordable and simple solution. To fix the damage, dentists use an inexpensive composite resin that they adhere to the broken teeth. Once in place, the resin is then shaped and polished to match the healthy surrounding teeth; as a result, patients are left with a natural-looking smile.

Conclusion

Teeth grinding can cause serious harm to teeth if left untreated or unaddressed. Luckily, there are many ways to repair teeth grinding damage. Regardless of which treatment option you choose, it's important that you take the necessary steps to break the teeth grinding habit in order to prevent any further damage.

If you think you might be suffering from teeth grinding, we strongly encourage you to consult your dentist so they can recommend the best treatment options for your needs. Doing so will help ensure a healthy smile and jawline for years to come.