How Teeth Grinding Can Damage Dentures

While some may consider teeth clenching to not be a very big deal, as a matter of fact, teeth grinding can damage dentures and can become a serious dental health-related problem. When teeth grinding happens with dentures in place or even after they are removed at night, the end result can be damage to the denture appliance itself as well as damage to soft tissue, the jawbone, and joints. In short, teeth grinding or clenching is hard on denture-type appliances. If you feel as though you have this problem - it is important to consult with your dental care provider as soon as possible. 

Grinding and Clenching Can Cause Serious Damage

While there are many reasons for teeth grinding, stress is certainly one of the potential causes. Excessive external stress in your life can easily cause you to begin grinding teeth. Young and old alike experience teeth grinding in various degrees. Older individuals who wear full dentures and have never grind their teeth in the past may find that they start once they begin wearing dentures. As mentioned, grinding and clenching can cause serious damage to denture appliances and ultimately result in injury to soft tissue and bone. There is a fallacy believed by some that teeth grinding will automatically stop once you’ve lost all your teeth.  

If Dentures Are Poorly Fitted 

This is simply not true and may continue long after dentures have been placed. That is why it’s so important to take this condition seriously and talk with your dental care provider if it becomes an issue. Chewing muscles are powerful and can cause serious damage as mentioned. Also, worth noting is that consistent teeth grinding or clenching with dentures will result in changes in oral bone structure causing dentures to not fit correctly. When dentures are poorly fitted as a result of grinding or clenching, they eventually become damaged. Talk with your Pinole dentists, Azadeh Hosseini, DDS and Ghazal Hosseini, DDS at Top Pinole Dental for more information on how teeth grinding can damage dentures. 

References:
[1] Teeth Grinding With Dentures – Does It Cause Damage?
[2] Learn More About Modern Dental Implant Technology