A Grinding Dilemma: Bruxism & Dental Implants

While dental implants aren’t “real” teeth, they’re still very durable. That said, you may wonder: Could you still get them if you have a teeth-grinding habit? The posts won’t seem viable if you think clenching your jaw would ruin your treatment results. Luckily enough, your Houston implant dentist can address your pressing question. Just keep reading to learn about the relationship between bruxism and dental implants, as well as how to reduce its risks.

Remind Me: What’s Bruxism?

At its core, bruxism is the habit of frequently grinding or clenching your teeth. High levels of stress and anxiety most often cause it; a tense mood can make you tense your jaw. However, cases can also result from dental misalignments, missing teeth, and other factors.

The worrisome part of bruxism is that it’s quite bad for oral health. Because it puts too much pressure on your teeth, it tends to wear down tooth enamel over time. Even worse, it often occurs while people sleep, so it’s hard to control without professional help.

Does It Affect Dental Implants?

As sturdy and durable as dental implants are, even they have their limits. A severe habit of grinding your teeth could put them at high risk of implant failure.

Don’t forget that dental implants fuse with your jaw to work. If you grind or clench your teeth too much, that fusion process could be delayed or even prevented. Your bruxism could also damage or break the implant with excessive pressure. Should that happen, you’d need a replacement post even if the fusion was going well.

How Can I Minimize the Risks?

Despite the points above, you can keep bruxism from ruining dental implants. Just use the following tips to reduce the risk of implant failure:

• Be Mindful of Your Jaw – Regularly check whether you’re clenching your jaw. That way, you can (as needed) relax your jaw’s muscles to return to normal.
• Try a Mouthguard – If you wear a custom-fit nightguard while asleep, you can keep yourself from grinding your teeth.
• Reduce Your Stress Levels – You could practice relevant anti-anxiety tips to avoid unconscious bruxism. For example, try reducing your stress by skipping caffeine after dinner.
• Get Sturdier Dental Implants – Some dental implants use materials stronger than titanium, such as zirconia. Get the latter kind if you think it necessary.

Of course, the best way to manage bruxism and dental implants is to consult your dentist. Make sure to talk to them before and after your treatment!

About the Practice

Downtown Houston Dental is based in Houston, TX. Led by the one-and-only Dr. Chris Johnson, our practice strives to give every patient the best dentistry possible. That means we tailor our preventive, cosmetic, and restorative treatments to your smile and its needs. Whether you need a checkup or dental implants, our team will make sure your whole mouth thrives! For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (713)-229-8100.