Whether you are one of the millions of individuals who clench or grind their teeth, also known as bruxism, you may be wondering if you are a candidate for Invisalign. This ailment is referred to as bruxism in the medical field. After all, won’t your Invisalign aligners get worn down if you clench and grind your teeth? And in the same way that a night guard may protect your teeth from the consequences of bruxism, can the aligners do the same thing?
We are one of the few expert Invisalign Providers, and we’ve helped thousands of patients perfect their smiles with clear aligners. In this post, we’ll provide all you need to know about the relationship between teeth grinding and Invisalign treatment brought to you by the best invisalign dentist London.
Why Does Someone Grind Their Teeth?
Bruxism is when you grind or clench your teeth without realising it, either while you are awake during the day (known as awake bruxism) or when you are asleep at night (known as sleep bruxism) (sleep bruxism).
What causes individuals to clench and grind their teeth?
According to the studies, there are a variety of factors that may lead to bruxism. Sleep bruxism, in particular, may have its origins in a central nervous system disorder that disrupts normal sleep patterns.
Additional causes and risk factors include the following:
- Tension and nervousness
- Because of its association with heredity, bruxism is often preceded by a history of teeth grinding in the patient’s family.
- Sleep disorders (i.e., sleep apnea, night terrors, etc.)
- Several disorders, including Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Acid Reflux
- Misaligned teeth
- Allergies
- Using certain pharmaceuticals as treatment
Behaviours that are part of a person’s lifestyle, such as smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol, engaging in recreational drug use, and ingesting significant quantities of caffeine, might contribute to disease.
If I grind my teeth, can I get Invisalign?
If you grind your teeth, you can get Invisalign in London. We can handle even the most difficult situations. Nearly everyone in our clinic is a candidate for Invisalign because of our extensive digital treatment planning and our familiarity with the product.
Teeth grinding can be alleviated in certain cases by using Invisalign. Chronic bruxism may be alleviated by correcting misaligned teeth, which are a possible cause of the disorder. These aligners will act as a buffer between your upper and lower teeth, protecting them from further damage. Teeth grinding might prematurely wear out your aligners. However, because most of our patients switch to a new set of aligners every week, by the time the appliance wears out, you’re already on to the next tray.
TMJ Disorder and Invisalign: What’s the Connection?
Invisalign and TMJ problems are topics we’re often asked about. TMJ problems and bruxism are often linked. Chronic, severe grinding may damage the temporomandibular joints and put undue strain on the whole chewing system, resulting in problems and discomfort. When TMJ problem is the result of teeth misalignment, Invisalign may be able to assist. It is possible to alleviate pain and eliminate teeth grinding by realigning your jaw and teeth to their proper position.
Certain individuals with severe TMJ dysfunction may need to address the issue before beginning Invisalign therapy since orthodontic treatment permanently alters the bite. TMJ splint treatment, for example, may provide rest and healing for the joint. To begin your Invisalign smile treatment, you’ll need to get any substantial discomfort and symptoms under control first.
During my Invisalign treatment, may I use a custom night guard?
Invisalign does not allow the use of a personalised mouthguard to prevent teeth grinding. During your Invisalign treatment, your teeth are continually shifting, necessitating a new night guard every few weeks. If you want the best results, you’ll need to wear your Invisalign aligners for 20 to 22 hours a day, including while you sleep as suggested by our Invisalign dentist in London. To use a night guard, you would have to remove your aligners. As a result, not wearing your aligners at night so that you may use a nightguard will jeopardise the recommended movement of teeth. When it comes to protecting your teeth from the damage caused by teeth grinding, Invisalign aligners may help. Aligners may be worn instead of your night guard while you are receiving treatment.
What are some ways that I may stop grinding my teeth after having Invisalign treatment?
After your Invisalign treatment is complete, our best Invisalign in London dentist will recommend that you wear a retainer to ensure that your teeth remain in their newly aligned positions. After receiving treatment, many patients report a significant reduction in the number of teeth grinding they perform and no longer feel the need to wear a sleep guard. Managing the occasional grinding of teeth may often be accomplished by the use of other methods, such as measures for stress reduction.
Those of you who still grind your teeth regularly will ultimately get to the point where you only need to wear your retainer three or four nights per week. At our dental clinic, we provide patients with retainers that are both removable and transparent. They resemble and function in the same manner as your Invisalign aligners. Your teeth will be protected from grinding to a comparable degree by the retainer as your aligners were before.
You may take advantage of your night guard in the evenings when you don’t have your retainer in your mouth. This will not only protect your newly whitened smile, but it will also assist your clear retainer to endure for a longer period.
Conclusion
Please get in touch with us if you have any more inquiries about teeth grinding and treatment including Invisalign braces cost. Make an appointment for a no-cost consultation with us right now! To make sure you achieve the best possible results with Invisalign in a way that is both comfortable and effective, the highly trained orthodontists at our practice will craft a personalised treatment strategy that takes into account your specific requirements. This may involve addressing concerns such as teeth grinding or TMJ dysfunction.