Clenching Teeth: Am I still a Candidate for Dental Implants?

dental implants CoquitlamDental implants are permanent, artificial tooth roots that are used to replace lost teeth. The artificial roots fuse with the jawbone, and are then covered with a cap that is color-matched to the rest of the teeth. Dental implants are low-maintenance, and look and feel like natural teeth.

Not everyone is an automatic candidate for dental implants, however. Patients with existing bone loss in the jaw may require bone grafts so the jaw can support the implants. Patients who grind their teeth will also need to take steps to correct their habit.

Grinding or clenching of the teeth, also known as bruxism, exerts large amounts of pressure on the implants. This is especially true of people who clench their jaws at night. The unconscious person clenches much more tightly than a person who is awake, which can do extra harm.

Clenching your jaw when you have dental implants can cause the bone surrounding the dental implant to erode. Bone loss could lead to possible implant failure, where the post itself comes loose and no longer supports the cap or crown.

If the implants are supporting dentures, the clenching of the jaw can cause them to crack or break in half. The pressure from bruxism can also cause the artificial tooth covering the implant to chip, crack, or break.

Suffering from bruxism does not automatically rule you out as a candidate for a dental implant. Your implant dentist will have to assess the state of your jawbone to see if the pressure has caused any bone loss. He will also be able to determine the severity of the clenching.

The dentist might be able to create a custom night guard for you, depending on your particular situation. The night guard will help to correct your bite while you sleep, and will cushion your teeth and jaw from the pressure caused by bruxism. With correct use of a night guard, a patient who clenches his jaw may successfully undergo dental implant treatment.

To find out if you are a candidate for dental implants, contact the Coquitlam office of Dr. Bernard Jin at 604-229-2824 and schedule your consultation today.