Bruxism is a condition in which you grind and clench your teeth. When you have this condition, your jaw muscles put excessive pressure on your teeth, causing jaw pain, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain, and damage to your teeth. Bruxism can also affect you, even if you have lost your teeth and are now wearing dentures. Optimum Oral Surgery Group is here to help.
EFFECTS OF BRUXISM ON YOUR DENTURES
Bruxism places much pressure on your jaws, causing your teeth to come together with greater pressure than is natural. This pressure can place much stress on your dentures, more stress than they are designed to handle. If you grind and clench your teeth during the day, this can cause your dentures to wear out much faster than normal. Bruxism can also cause them to fracture or break.
Even sleep bruxism can cause you to go through dentures more quickly than normal. While you may not be wearing your dentures as you sleep, your upper and lower jaws can still be forced together. This places excessive pressure on your gums and the ridges underneath, which can then lead to faster bone resorption. The faster your bone resorb, the faster it changes shape, meaning your denture will no longer fit properly. Typically, dentures need to be changed approximately every seven years. With bruxism, however, you may find that you need to replace your dentures much sooner.
DENTURES CAN LEAD TO BRUXISM
For some patients, bruxism does not develop until after they have received their dentures. In cases such as these, bruxism is caused by dentures that do not fit properly. If your dentures do not fit correctly, your jaw muscles can be put out of balance. This can then lead them to contract harder to achieve proper balance. As a result, excessive pressure is placed on your dentures, which can then cause them to wear down or break.
You may also develop night bruxism following tooth replacement with dentures. Without your natural teeth, your jaws may not align properly while you sleep, which can lead to bruxism. Your muscles may become stressed because they are unable to achieve a comfortable position as you sleep.
HOW CAN BRUXISM BE TREATED?
Fortunately, it is possible to treat your bruxism, even while wearing dentures. There are a few ways in which this can be done. One way bruxism can be treated with neuromuscular dentures. These types of dentures are designed with your jaw muscles in mind. They are made in such a way that they can help you to achieve a much better bite than regular dentures, which aids in reducing your risk for experiencing bruxism.
Another option for treating bruxism is with a night guard. This is an oral appliance that is made to absorb the impact that your muscles exert on your jaw, preventing grinding, clenching, and the associated effects that bruxism causes.
Another option for dealing with bruxism is to trade in your dentures for dental implants. Dental implants are meant to be a permanent solution to tooth loss that remains in place at all times. This allows your teeth and jaws to remain in alignment at all times.
If you wear dentures and are dealing with bruxism, there are options to help alleviate the pain and other issues associated with the condition and restore your quality of life. Call Optimum Oral Surgery Group today at (856)778-8686 to learn more.