Dental implants are often considered the gold standard of tooth replacement; they’re fully capable of restoring lost teeth in terms of look and feel, but better yet, can function unimpeded for decades with proper care! That said, if you’re curious about receiving dental implants, you might be worried about your eligibility—especially if you suffer from bruxism. But does this condition truly influence a person’s ability to accommodate dental implants? Here’s what your dentist wants you to know.
Breaking Down Bruxism
“Bruxism” is actually a very common condition, but many patients are unfamiliar with what the word means. It’s simply the medical term used to describe the grinding of teeth and/or clenching of the jaw, often unconsciously, due to stress, misalignment issues, missing teeth and many other problems.
Bruxism places excessive amounts of pressure on a patient’s mouth, which can cause damage to the oral structures inside the mouth, specifically the teeth. And unfortunately, this often happens during the nighttime when patients don’t even realize it! This makes the issue difficult to detect and bring under control without professional treatment.
How Bruxism Affects Dental Implants
Bruxism isn’t just detrimental to your natural teeth; it can just as easily damage dental restorations such as dental implants; in fact, the habit is one of the leading causes of implant failure. This is because it can negatively impact osseointegration, the process in which your implant posts fuse with your jawbone after being placed. Needless to say, if your implants can not bond with your jaw, they’ll lack the necessary stability to function as intended and last permanently.
How Your Dentist Can Help
Luckily, your dentist is capable of helping you address your bruxism in preparation for dental implants. When you attend your consultation, they’ll check for all sorts of things that might compromise your future dental implants; bruxism is among these issues, as well as gum disease and insufficient jawbone density.
If the root of the problem stems from stress, you might need to undergo therapy combined with facial exercises to relieve some of the tension from around your mouth. In other instances, such as when dealing with jaw misalignment, a custom-made nightguard is often the go-to solution. These devices can protect your teeth at night while encouraging them to shift back into the correct position. If bruxism has compromised a patient’s jawbone density, a dental bone graft might be necessary to provide adequate fortification to the jaw.
Dental implants are still a possibility for patients with bruxism; it’s just possibly going to take a little extra work to get there! That said, bruxism is still a condition that’s always worth addressing whether you’re interested in getting dental implants or not, so don’t hesitate to get it under control in order to prevent future oral health issues.
About the Practice
Here at University Dental Group, we’re honored to provide an exceptional level of care for patients and families in the Worcester, MA area. We offer a wide range of preventive, cosmetic and restorative options, such as dental implants, that are certain to assist you with achieving the brightest and healthiest smile imaginable. If you have any questions about dental implants or would like to schedule a visit for you or a loved one, you can contact us online or by phone for further information or assistance: (508) 753-1911.