Bruxism is the condition of grinding your teeth, something many people do during the night. Some people even grind their teeth during the day and may or may not be aware of it. Although common, this is a serious condition that can ruin your smile over time. Teeth grinding can lead to teeth that look abnormally short or filed down. Your dentist can usually tell if you’re grinding your teeth when you come in for your checkup. If you have teeth that have been worn down by bruxism, how can you restore your smile?
Repair Gum Tissue
Depending on how severe your bruxism is and how long it’s been going on, your gum tissue may have been affected. Bruxism can often cause inflammation of the gums or even gum recession. This means your gums may need to be healed first or you may need to have what’s called a crown lengthening to prepare your affected teeth for the restoration process.
Dental Crowns
Dental crowns are an effective restoration choice for people who have severe damage from their bruxism. Crowns act as a cap for your tooth to protect your tooth’s root and repair your smile. Dental crowns can repair any existing damage but also are adept at preventing future damage. If your dentist suggests that dental crowns would be your best choice, you may need a crown lengthening in order to fit the crown. When it comes to dental crowns, you have several choices for the material. From traditional gold to porcelain fused to metal to all ceramic crowns, you and your dentist can decide what your best fit would be.
Veneers
Since bruxism can affect the appearance of your front teeth, veneers could be your best choice to restore your worn down pearly whites. For instance, bruxism tends to make your entire row of top and bottom teeth look uniform. Veneers can restore your smile to its natural appearance and help rebuild its functionality as well. Resin or porcelain veneers work well for visible damage on the front teeth to improve your smile.
Stopping Bruxism
In order to complete the restoration work on your smile, you’ll need to stop your bruxism before it continues to damage your restored teeth. This may include wearing a mouthguard at night, which should be custom made by your dentist to properly protect your smile. You may also need to have your bite corrected, as patients with misaligned bites can be more likely to grind their teeth.
Whatever your unique solution will be, your dentist can help you combat your bruxism so you can enjoy your beautiful smile to the fullest! It’s important not to wait to get help when it comes to bruxism. The longer you wait, the more damage you can incur from your habit. Minor damage will require less restorative work than severe damage! It’s also important to find a dentist who’s experienced in restoring smiles that are damaged from bruxism, as you may need some or all of your teeth rebuilt. Seek help today to restore your teeth from bruxism!
