Cracked Teeth? COVID-19 Could be the Culprit

A dentist in the NY Times recently noted that she has seen more tooth fractures in the last few months than she’s seen in the last few years. What’s going on?

The quest for information and subsequent worries that have been coined “doom-surfing” and “corona-phobia,” relates to anxiety due to all the unknowns and stress of this pandemic. As medical professionals, we know that all too common side effects of worry include poor sleep which can lead to jaw clenching, an unconscious nighttime practice which can really damage teeth. Some patients may be experiencing sensitivity or even pain and don’t realize it’s from grinding their teeth at night.

Bruxism Can Hurt Teeth and Jaws

Tooth grinding, known as bruxism, is basically an unconscious habit that becomes worse under stress. And let’s face it, 2020 has been pretty stressful! While dental implants are meant to handle the normal wear and tear of chewing, the negative impact of nighttime grinding can also lead to jawbone tissue damage that could potentially affect the efficacy of future implants.

Protecting Your Teeth

To stop this grinding and clenching from wreaking havoc on our teeth and dental implant investments, we suggest you consider professionally made night guards. Our handcrafted night guards are dental prostheses that will keep your teeth in proper alignment and prevent grinding. The material used is very durable and can withstand pressure. Separate upper and lower devices “lock” firmly in place on top of your teeth. And, since they’ve been created to precisely fit your individual bite, the night guards are easily put on and taken off in seconds and won’t come loose or accidentally fall out.

There’s no need to wake up with cracked teeth. And why would you want to throw money down the drain and not protect your implant investments? Call South Florida Center for Periodontics & Implant Dentistry and schedule an appointment for your custom-made night guard now.