If you’re unhappy with the state of your smile thanks to misalignment and bite issues, you aren’t alone. Fortunately, you don’t need to spend your orthodontic treatment with a mouthful of metal brackets and wires. Instead, you could opt for SureSmile. This treatment uses a series of clear aligners to slowly shift your teeth into their rightful locations. But what if you grind your teeth at night? Will this get in the way of your ability to get SureSmile? Here’s what you should know.
Is SureSmile an Option for People Who Grind Their Teeth?
SureSmile clear aligners are made using flexible plastic, so people who grind their teeth are often worried about whether their teeth grinding will get in the way of their treatment. The good news is that many people who grind their teeth are still able to get SureSmile. There is a chance that your aligners could wear down faster, but this isn’t usually that big of a deal. Most of the time, patients only wear a given set of aligners for two weeks or so, and then it’s time to move on to the next set. Your aligners can even act as a barrier for grinding, preventing additional damage to your teeth.
How Does SureSmile Affect Teeth Grinding?
SureSmile may be able to improve your teeth grinding. This is because when teeth aren’t in ideal positions, the bite isn’t lined up. This can create uneven surfaces throughout the mouth. When teeth don’t fit together correctly, this can cause irritation to the temporomandibular joint (the joint in which your jawbone connects to your skull), leading to involuntary teeth grinding. By working towards an aligned smile, it can reduce your grinding and even reduce related symptoms, like jaw pain and headaches.
Who’s a Good Candidate for SureSmile?
When trying to determine whether SureSmile is a good option for you, there are several different factors to be considered. SureSmile has the ability to correct teeth that are crooked, gapped, crowded, and misaligned. However, some bite problems are more severe and better treated with traditional braces.
Age is also an important factor to consider. The jaw and teeth are constantly changing and growing throughout childhood and during the teenage years. Patients must also wear their aligners for at least 20 hours a day to achieve desired results. This is doable for responsible teens and adults, but parents may want to consider traditional braces for their children because they are fixed to their smiles, making them lower maintenance. As long as they are committed to the SureSmile process, most teens and adults make good candidates for treatment.
Just because you grind your teeth doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t get SureSmile! During your consultation, your dentist will examine your smile so you can discuss if this orthodontic treatment is ideal for you!
About the Practice
At Vason Family Dentistry, Dr. Carlisle Vason and Dr. Kristen Grisham are proud to be serving patients in Atlanta. Both dentists have been educated at the renowned Pankey Institute and are committed to keeping up with the latest dental technology, techniques, and materials. They use SureSmile to address misalignment issues and give patients the smiles of their dreams. To learn more about SureSmile or to schedule a consultation, visit their website or call (404) 367-9799.