When it comes to restoring missing teeth, dental implants are tough to beat. Not only do these awesome little implants effectively replace your teeth, but they fuse with your jawbones to provide foundational support and stability that can last for a long time, with success rates varying from 95% to 98%! However, there are certain factors that increase the risk of dental implant failure, and you might be wondering if your bruxism condition is one of them. Here’s what you need to know about bruxism and how it could potentially influence your candidacy for dental implant treatment.
What Exactly Is Bruxism?
Even though it’s a very common condition, “bruxism” is a word that many patients are unfamiliar with. It’s simply the medical term used to describe repetitive teeth grinding or clenching because of stress, misalignment problems, or missing teeth. Bruxism places excessive pressure on the teeth that can eventually damage and wear them down. Unfortunately, bruxism also often occurs during the nighttime while most patients sleep, making it difficult to recognize and control without professional treatment.
How Does Bruxism Affect Dental Implants?
One of the key factors to dental implant success is osseointegration, the process in which tissue from the jawbone fuses with the titanium posts of the implants. This is a gradual process that takes several months and excessive pressure on the teeth can easily disrupt it! Therefore, bruxism can pose a serious problem for patients seeking dental implants. If you’re continually grinding and clenching your teeth, the implants will not be able to successfully fuse with your jaw.
Can I Still Get Dental Implants with Bruxism?
When you visit your dentist for an initial consultation about receiving dental implants, they’ll check for things that could possibly jeopardize them. Gum disease, inadequate jawbone density, and signs of bruxism all pose a threat and must be addressed prior to getting implants.
Luckily, your dentist will be able to treat your bruxism prior to clearing you for dental implants. They’ll first have to determine the cause; if it’s something like stress, you might have to consider stress management therapy or physical therapy combined with facial exercises to relieve the tension around your jaws. In other instances, custom-made nightguards can protect your teeth at night and encourage them to shift back into a correct position.
With a little help from your dentist, you can still get dental implants once your bruxism is under control. Even though it can sometimes be serious, bruxism is very treatable and doesn’t have to prevent you from achieving a healthier, better-looking smile.
About the Practice
Stone Street Dental is proud to serve patients and families in the Greenville community under the leadership of Dr. Alison K. Garrad! Dr. Garrad received her dental doctorate from the Texas A&M College of Dentistry and is an active member of the American Dental Association, the Texas Dental Association, the Academy of General Dentistry, and the Spear Study Club. Her practice offers a wide variety of services including dental implants! To schedule a visit, please reach out online or by phone: (903) 455-6075.
