Bruxism (Teeth grinding)
The word “brux” is the term that dentists use to refer to a patient’s habit of tooth clenching and grinding. Grinding teeth can occur during waking hours, during sleep, or both. Sometimes patients are not even aware of their bruxism habit. Over time, people who clench and grind their teeth can wear them down to the point they have lost their pleasant and natural looking smile.
Appearance of Severe Wear
People who clinch and grind their teeth typically have the same characteristic wear pattern. Teeth with severe wear are generally short and all the same length. A normal smile has a more gently rounded contour with certain teeth having slightly varying lengths. Patients with clinching habits generally have worn the edges of their teeth flat and often display chipping.
Treatment Using All Crowns
Damage from teeth grinding can be so severe that the treatment of choice involves the use of all crowns. The use of porcelain crowns over the worn teeth is a reliable technique because the must be able to withstand the extreme forces from clenching and grinding. Porcelain crowns can repair the most severe dental problems. They can even replace missing teeth to offer a complete and functional bite. Visit our Smile Gallery to see some of our patient’s transformations using all crowns.
Contact Us
Dr. John Cannariato provides quality work with fantastic transformations. He is renowned for quality smile makeovers and long-lasting correction of major dental problems. If you have worn your teeth to an unflattering level and need a “new” smile, contact Palm Harbor Premier Dental at (727) 349-3615.
Read more about All-Porcelain Crowns here.
For further reading related to this topic read: Aging and Oral Health and Hypersensitive Teeth.