I'm Getting Crowns in the Front 4 Teeth and I Grind my Teeth Bad at Night Would a Retainer Necessary?

Patients that grind their teeth at night or nocturnal grinders are best served by having a night guard or dental appliance made.  Before initiating treatment on your front teeth, find out why crowns are necessary on all front 4 teeth and what can be done to prevent more teeth from braking down.  If you have an occlusal or bite related problem, that needs to be taken care of before restoring the front teeth.  When someone has extensive treatment in our dental practice, a night guard or dental appliance is made.  Sometimes Botox, which can reduce biting intensity if injected in the muscles of mastication, is necessary and can help to correct these occlusal problems in combination with a dental appliance.  

You must likely don/t mean a retainer but are thinking of a night guard to prevent or reduce damage to your teeth and or crowns and yes that would be a good idea good luck

 

Kevin Coughlin DMD, MBA, MAGD      CEO Baystate Dental PC

Crowns especially cosmetic restoratons can fracture if placed under excessive load.  If you are a severe nightime grinder wearing a guard would definitely be warranted.  The porcelain can also wear your lower teeth so it serves a dual purpose.

For anyone who grinds their teeth as much as you say you do, I would recommend a night guard no matter what they had on their front teeth.  The fact that you are getting crowns will exacerbate any problems you might have.  They will hasten the wear of the lower front teeth because these teeth will be grinding against porcelain instead of enamel, which is a much stronger substance then the enamel.  You also increase the chance of chipping the porcelain of your new crowns if you are grinding on them 7-8 hours a night.  Do yourself a favor and get a night guard after the crowns are placed. 

An occlusal guard or a mouthguard is something that is recommended for patients to maintain any porcelain work in their mouths, especially if they are prone to grinding their teeth.

Yes, since you are a grinder, probably having a night guard will be necessary to protect your new dental pieces. The forces of the bite can be incredibly strong and of course you can literally unglue them at night. We do recommend always a nigh guard for patients that come to restore their teeth damaged by grinding, I think it is a good idea.