Bruxism - Break The Habit, Not Your Teeth

The damage caused by teeth grinding. Restoring teeth at your local Greenwich dental practice.

Bruxism, or teeth grinding, is probably more common than most of us believe. The fact that much of it takes place at night whilst we sleep, means that many more of us probably grind our teeth than we think.

Not all Bruxism is severe, but even minor teeth grinding is likely to cause some damage to our teeth over a period of time.

Stress is considered to be one of the main underlying causes of bruxism and whilst some dental guards may be useful to prevent the damage done, dealing with the source of stress is clearly the best long term solution if possible.

Tooth damage

The most dramatic damage that bruxism is likely to cause is tooth breakage. Anyone who grinds their teeth in an aggressive manner is likely to break at least one tooth, and quite likely several more. Even mild grinders will not escape damage though. Small chips may appear in the teeth, exposing the dentine layer and making the tooth more vulnerable to decay. Worn down teeth and general enamel erosion are also likely, and, over a period of time, quite significant damage can occur.

Restorations

There is little point in fully restoring your teeth whilst you are still grinding them. Temporary restorative solutions may be available and you may also wish to discuss the use of a dental guard with us too. However, once your teeth grinding habit is under control, there are a number of solutions available at the Confidental Clinic in Greenwich which can help to restore your teeth to a fully functional state.

Broken teeth

Depending on the degree of damage done to your teeth, we may choose fillings or cosmetic bonding as a solution. These materials can be made to match the colour of your teeth and should provide sufficient strength in a lot of cases. However, where the break is more significant, dental crowns, inlays or onlays may be used as a stronger solution. Where the surface enamel of the front teeth has eroded, dental veneers may be a suitable solution, but would only really be suitable once the grinding habit is completely under control.

As with all dental treatments, we will need to see you for a full examination to assess the most suitable solution for you. These are just examples of what might be possible.

If your former tooth grinding habit has left your teeth in poor condition, or if you are unhappy with the way your teeth now look, our helpful Greenwich dentists can assist in restoring them back to a functional and attractive state. The Confidental Clinic can be contacted by calling 020 8858 1422 where our reception team will be happy to advise you.