A problem with bruxism makes the results of dental implants very unpredictable. Earlier, it was considered an absolute contraindication to having dental implants, but today, there are more options for patients with this problem.
Bruxism can be both curable and incurable. It can be conditioned by occlusion, and it may be possible to correct it. Or it can be a parafunction caused by the central nervous system. For the latter, the treatment of bruxism is almost impossible.
The danger for dental implants, in this case, is uncontrolled time and intensity of the contact between teeth. This contact brings excessive strain over the implants and the place where they contact the bone.
How to Know Whether Bruxism Is Curable?
There is a special therapy that allows diagnosing the form of bruxism. Special mouth guards with ideal occlusion help understand whether it is connected with the bite. A patient wears this mouth guard for a couple of months and then shows it to the orthodontist.
If there are traces of damage on the cup, this means that the problem of bruxism is connected with occlusion. There can be several causes for this. Joint pain can be a reason that makes a patient clench their teeth and grind them.
Bruxism due to occlusion can also be caused by contact of the posterior teeth before the joints are in position. And finally, the contact between teeth can be made in places where it shouldn’t normally happen. Therefore, all problems connected with bruxism due to occlusion, are caused by the misbalance of the jaws.
Do All Cases of Parafunctional Bruxism Exclude Dental Implants?
Parafunctional bruxism can also be different – vertical or horizontal. Horizontal parafunctional bruxism is very difficult to treat. It means a wide range of jaw movements to the left and right. The correction of such a problem requires a special occlusion treatment that helps to save the teeth. Unfortunately, dental implants are not an option for this type of bruxism.
Vertical parafunctional bruxism means limited mobility of the lower jaw and this is successfully treated with the help of special orthopedic mouth guards.
If a patient with bruxism is looking for dental implants Brooklyn, it is necessary to establish the most predictable results. Special automated systems are used for this. The prognosis of contacts with enhanced deformation allows targeted correction of occlusion to minimize the risk of implant loss.
