Tooth loss can affect anyone at any time, and it can happen due to a variety of reasons, including accidental trauma to the face or as a result of an oral health problem. In any case, replacing the tooth with a lifelike alternative like dental implants can help you maintain a smile that looks and feels natural. The only problem is, if you have certain habits, like grinding and clenching your teeth at night, it could cause problems for your restorations. Read on to learn whether it’s a good idea to get implants if you have bruxism, and what you can do to prevent implant failure.
What is Bruxism?
Bruxism, more commonly known as the nightly grinding and clenching of your teeth, is a condition that affects millions of people in the nation. It can develop due to daily or chronic stress, or it can be a result of orthodontic issues, like bite misalignment. In any case, it can have a severe impact on the health and structure of your teeth by gradually grinding them, flattening the biting surfaces and eroding the protective enamel. Because it occurs at night, during sleep, many people with bruxism don’t know they have it. That’s why it’s important to know the common signs of this condition, like waking up with a dull headache, jaw tenseness or soreness, clicking or popping sounds when you open and close your mouth, or even migraines.
The Connection Between Bruxism & Implant Failure
Bruxism can have dire effects on your natural teeth by causing enamel erosion and dental damage, but what about if you have dental implants? A popular study published in 2018 looked at the lifespan of 640 dental implants in 450 people (124 of them had bruxism) over the course of five years. The conclusion was that bruxism can impact the survival rate of implants and there’s a need to follow certain preventive measures for patients with bruxism to ensure the success of their restorations.
How Can You Protect Your Newly Restored Smile?
If you have bruxism, that doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re not a good candidate for dental implants—it just means that you’ll need to take additional protective measures to keep your new teeth from becoming loose or failing. Some of these steps include understanding the root cause of your bruxism, and if possible, addressing it before you receive implants, and wearing a custom protective nightguard to cushion your implants as you grind.
Dental implants can truly be a life-changing treatment, and with the proper care and maintenance, they can last for 35 or more years, making protecting your smile from bruxism well worth the time and effort!
About the Author
Dr. Spenser Cammack has been practicing dentistry for several years and is passionate about helping his patients maintain healthy and intact smiles. He is a proud, active member of several professional organizations and keeps up with the latest dental research and findings to continue providing his patients with top-tier care. If you have bruxism and want to get dental implants, schedule a consultation by visiting Peterson & Cammack Family & Cosmetic Dentistry’s website or call 360-459-4420.