Grinding your teeth at night can often be a side effect of untreated chronic stress. This condition, which is known as bruxism, can put your mouth at increased risk of damage and dysfunction. This might start with dental fractures and chips that are prone to tooth decay. The severity of the damage to the tooth enamel will largely influence the restoration method that Dr. Spear presents to you.
It might be possible for a chip or a minor fracture to be repaired with a standard amalgam or composite dental filling. If a large amount of the biting surface has been compromised, Dr. Spear might recommend repairing the damaged tooth with a special inlay or onlay filling.
If a large amount of the tooth enamel has been damaged, Dr. Spear might recommend a total restoration of the tooth enamel layer with a dental crown. This will completely replace the tooth’s enamel layer with an alternative dental material.
Going forward, you might want to consider sleeping with a dental guard in your mouth to protect your unaffected teeth from potential harm. It’s also worth noting that without some form of remediation or prevention the chronic tension applied to your temporomandibular joints could eventually lead to TMJ disorder.
If you live in the Fort Worth, Texas, area and your teeth have been damaged by chronic night grinding, you should call 817.920.1488 to have it treated and repaired at Brent A. Spear, DDS.