Bruxism, or teeth grinding for short, is a habitual unconscious behavior in which an individual grinds the teeth, thereby bringing them into motion and rubbing against each other; this often happens whilst the person sleeps. This practice is harmful to oral health, and dental fillings are specifically affected. With the help of a Dentist in Grand Rapids, MI, in this blog post, we shall explain its impact on dental fillings.

What is Bruxism?

The causes of bruxism include stress and anxiety, sleep disorders, an abnormal bite, or missing and crooked teeth. Bruxism affects as much as 30% of the general population at some point in their lives, according to estimates. Symptoms often include:

• Jaw pain or discomfort
• Morning headaches
• Earaches
• Sensitive teeth
• Eroded enamel revealing the underlying layers of the tooth
• Indentations on the tongue

How Bruxism Affects Fillings

Fillings are a form of restorative dentistry that replaces the part of a tooth that’s lost due to corrosion, crack, or wear. Unfortunately, those powerful forces associated with bruxism can affect such restorations in several ways:

1. Increased Wear and Tear: Resin, amalgam, and ceramic fillings are used to treat cavities that develop on teeth due to decay but fillings are not safe from the repeated strain of bruxism either. With time, this tension can lead to the filling product getting depleted, making it inefficient and short-lived. That can be an especially big problem for composite resin fillings, as they are more vulnerable to wear than an amalgam filling.
2. Cracking and Fracturing: Fillings may crack or fracture due to the increased pressure from teeth grinding. But the filling is likely to be damaged, making that tooth vulnerable again to cavities and infection. Cracked or broken fillings can lead to serious dental problems, and they often require immediate care.
3. Loosening and Dislodgement: Continuous movement and grinding can break the bond of the filling and structure of the tooth. This can lead to the filling being loose or popping completely out. If a filling is worn, loose, or lost it could cause sensitivity, discomfort, and an increase in decay.
4. Harm to Adjacent Tooth Structure: Bruxism not only the fillings but also the adjacent tooth structure. This excessive force is strong enough to chip or crack teeth around that filling area, requiring more invasive dental work — crowns, root canals, and all.

Precautions and Cures

If you suffer from bruxism in Grand Rapids, ensure that you have taken the proper steps to preserve your dental fillings as well as your overall oral health. Some tips on how to do this:

1. Mouthguards: Wearing a custom mouthguard or nightguard is one of the best ways to protect teeth and fillings from the effects of bruxism. They are created to absorb and cushion your pearly whites and reduce the effects of grinding and clenching while you sleep.
2. Stress Management: We know that teeth grinding is often associated with stress and anxiety, because managing those things can make bruxism less frequent or intense. For this, yoga, meditation, exercise, and counseling can be very helpful.

Dental fillings may be severely impacted by bruxism, which can cause increased wear, cracking, loosening, and harm to the surrounding tooth tissue. Maintaining dental health for Grand Rapids, Michigan citizens requires being aware of these implications and taking preventative action. The lifespan of dental fillings and general dental health can be ensured by reducing the damage caused by bruxism by regular dental examinations, stress management, and mouthguard use.

For a thorough treatment plan that is customized to your requirements, it is crucial to speak with a dentist if you think you could be grinding your teeth.