Can I Get Veneers if I Grind my Teeth?

With porcelain veneers, patients can transform the way their teeth look for a more vibrant, balanced, and attractive smile. However, can dental veneers and teeth grinding be a successful duo? The answer is no. Teeth grinding will affect veneers and is a condition that will need to be addressed first before considering this smile makeover option. At Michaela Tozzi, DMD in Las Vegas, NV, Dr. Michaela Tozzi uses porcelain veneers to help patients feel better about how their smiles look. But more importantly, she wants to provide a dental treatment that lasts. Read to learn more about bruxism and the importance of addressing the problem before moving forward with veneers.

What is teeth grinding?

Teeth grinding, also known as bruxism, is a condition when individuals gnash, clench, or grind their teeth. People who have bruxism unconsciously clench their teeth while awake, asleep, or both. The medical community doesn't completely understand what causes this condition, but it may be linked to a combination of psychological, physical, and genetic factors. Bruxism may be due to emotions, such as stress, anger, anxiety, and insomnia. Grinding can wear down the teeth, which can become blunt, fractured, or short. Clenching also puts pressure on the tissues, muscles, and other facial structures around the jaw. It can lead to:

• Sore gums
• Jaw stiffness or pain
• Popping or clicking of jaw joints
• Headaches
• Loose, sensitive, or broken teeth
• Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction

What are porcelain veneers?

Veneers not only improve the way your smile looks, but they also promote attentive oral care that keeps teeth and gums in optimal condition. With state-of-the-art dental facilities, like Michaela Tozzi, DMD, Las Vegas patients can choose veneers to correct a wide variety of smile imperfections. These thin, shell-like dental restorations are fabricated of the finest quality of porcelain and are able to mask various types of dental concerns, such as:

• Permanent stains
• Misaligned, uneven, or irregularly shaped teeth
• Broken, chipped, or cracked teeth
• Gaps between teeth
• Slightly crooked teeth
• Tooth sensitivity

Are veneers worth it if I grind my teeth?

While porcelain veneers are very durable and strong, teeth grinding can damage them. A person's natural teeth can crack or chip from the pressure of grinding or clenching. Porcelain veneers are no different and can chip, crack, loosen, or fall off from teeth grinding's continuous pressure. Before receiving porcelain veneers, Dr. Tozzi will try to determine the cause of bruxism and discuss treatment options, such as wearing a custom mouth guard at night or doing relaxation techniques to reduce stress. Porcelain veneers can transform the way your smile looks, but you need to protect your investment and treat your teeth grinding condition first.

Improving the quality, look, and confidence of the smile is something often achieved with dental veneers. Porcelain veneers are an excellent choice for delivering dramatic smile results for a more attractive, confident appearance. To learn more about veneers and teeth grinding, schedule an in-person or online consultation with Dr. Michaela Tozzi at our office near Las Vegas, NV.