Do I Need Dental Implants for Tooth Loss Due to Bruxism?

You may need dental implants for tooth loss if you grind your teeth at night. If it is happening frequently and you are starting to experience dental issues, it may be time to find out more about bruxism and how dental implants could be the solution to the dental issues you are experiencing.

What is Bruxism?

Bruxism is the involuntary or habitual grinding, gnashing, or clenching of the teeth. It is a very common problem in both adults and children. While bruxism can occur while you are awake, most commonly it occurs as people sleep. Daytime bruxism happens when people unconsciously clench their teeth together when they are awake.

Teeth grinding is considered to be a sleep-related movement disorder and can cause disrupted sleep in certain individuals. Often stress-related, bruxism can be related to certain sleep disorders, lifestyle choices, psychological factors, or a rare side effect to some medication.

Effects of Bruxism

The effects of bruxism can be destructive for your dental health. Over time, repeated grinding of your teeth can lead to attrition; a process by which gradual deterioration and wear of a tooth or several teeth occurs. Teeth can become chipped, worn, flattened, or fractured. Damage to the tooth allows bacteria to enter the tooth and leads to increase in the likelihood of cavities. Unchecked tooth decay and fractures can lead to tooth loss.

Other symptoms of bruxism that often cause patients to seek medical treatment include increased sensitivity and facial and/or jaw tension.

How Dental Implants Can Help

When the effects of bruxism cause a tooth or teeth to be damaged beyond repair, your oral surgeon may recommend an effective solution called dental implants. Dental implants can easily transform a smile affected by bruxism.

The process involved in getting a dental implant begins with the oral surgeon placing an artificial root in the jaw to replace the missing root of the tooth lost. Replacing the root with a titanium or titanium alloy root prevents jaw bone loss as the root fuses to the bone. The implant tooth is then attached to the post to restore a beautiful, healthy smile.

Once the dental implant is in place, it is important to take steps to protect your dental implant investment from being damaged by your bruxism. Your oral surgeon can provide suggestions to help you lessen your teeth grinding and offer suggestions, such as the use of a mouth guard, to protect your teeth from further damage.

If you are experiencing the negative effects of bruxism, do not wait to seek help. Call the caring and professional team at Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons of Utah today to discuss dental implants for tooth loss.