Veneers and Bruxism: Protecting Your Investment
Veneers and bruxism aren’t usually compatible. If you grind your teeth, you may have been told you can’t get veneers because you’ll damage them.
At Croasdaile Dental ArtsThis link leads to Home page, serving Durham, NC, and the nearby region, this isn’t the case. We’ll craft a plan especially for you to correct or control the bruxism, allowing you to have a beautiful smile and shield your investment from premature damage.
Let’s take a moment to explain how you can have veneers as a teeth-grinder.
The stats
According to a study published in PubMedThis link opens a new tab to the PubMed website, bruxism reduces the success rate of this cosmetic treatment by 60%.
Of the participants in that study, 170 suffered from bruxism, and 153 didn’t. In total, 13 fractures and 29 debonding episodes occurred.
More than half of the fractures and 22 debonding incidents were in people with bruxism.
This research also revealed that mouth splint usage significantly decreased a person’s risk of veneer failure.
What’s causing your teeth grinding?
One of the most common reasons for bruxism is stress and anxiety. You may use it as a coping mechanism.
On the other hand, you may participate in this habit whenever you’re deep in thought.
Not to mention, your risk of bruxism is greater if you suffer from sleep apnea—a condition that occurs whenever you stop breathing while you sleep.
If you snore from sleep apnea or another reason, your chances of grinding your teeth are also higher.
Other possible causes of bruxism include the following:
- Taking a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), like sertraline
- Smoking
- Consuming a large amount of caffeine
- Having temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Parkinson’s disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Having a misalignment
The exam
Whenever you visit our office, one of our dentistsThis link leads to Doctors’ page will thoroughly inspect your teeth and gums.
We’ll discuss with you any possible contributing factors if you have bruxism.
Based on the examination and our discussion, we may be able to tell the cause of your teeth grinding, though it isn’t always known.
If we determine you have TMJ, we may recommend exercises and a mouth splint.
For stress-related causes, we’ll recommend stress-management techniques.
When the cause isn’t known or addressable, our dentist will size you for a nighttime mouthguard. Sometimes, we’ll provide this in addition to your other treatments.
Patients who receive a mouthguard must wear it each night to protect the veneers and the person’s natural teeth.
High-strength materials can help
When it comes to durability, not all veneer materials are the same.
If you suffer from bruxism, a dentist from our practice will recommend against resin composite because of its vulnerability to damage.
Instead, our dentist will recommend a brand, material, or strength of veneer known to withstand more-than-average wear and tear.
For instance, we may recommend high-grade porcelain.This link leads to Porcelain veneers Remember that standard-quality porcelain veneers usually last an average of 15 years.
Alternatives
After we assess your mouth, if our dentist determines that veneers are not the appropriate course of action, we’ll present another option that may provide better results.
For instance, a ceramic crown may hold up to the bruxism more effectively while still cosmetically improving the tooth.
Dental bondingThis link leads to Dental bonding page is another option, and it consists of our dentist applying a tooth-colored resin to your teeth to enhance their appearance. This option can repair chips, cracks, minor decay, and discoloration.
We could use teeth whiteningThis link leads to Teeth whitening page when discoloration is the only issue we’re addressing.
When you have gaps or spacing problems, we can use Invisalign®This link leads to Invisalign page to correct them.
What’s next?
Since you’ve already searched for “veneers and bruxism,” your next step should be reaching out to us.
Together, we can determine if you’re eligible for veneers and what we can do to optimize the longevity of this cosmetic dental procedure.
Conversely, we may decide an alternative solution would be best, but no matter the case, you’ll improve the appearance of your smile despite having bruxism.
Though you don’t typically think of veneers and bruxism together, a dentist from Croasdaile Dental ArtsThis link leads to Doctors’ page can make it possible in many cases. And when we can’t, we can offer you a solution to your specific needs.
Don’t delay! Reach out to us today and be one step closer to your dream smile!
Or:
- Call us at: 919-383-7402
- Email us at: info@croasdailedentalarts.com
We’re located in Durham, NC, but we gladly welcome those from Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Cary, Wake Forest, Holly Springs, Garner, Burlington, and Clayton!
