Chronic stress and other factors can cause some individuals to grind their teeth while sleeping. Left unmitigated the pressure exerted by clenching and grinding can lead to chipped and fractured tooth enamel on multiple teeth.

While fractures are more common on the biting surfaces of molars and premolars, any tooth in your mouth can be damaged by chronic night grinding. Also referred to as bruxism, the condition can also affect the health and function of the temporomandibular joints that hinge your jaw.

If you have a chipped or fractured tooth, you need to have it examined, as soon as possible by a dentist like Dr. Lyndel Stripling or Dr. Shawn Nemovi. Without timely treatment, the affected area of tooth enamel could harbor a severe case of tooth decay.

If the damage to the tooth’s enamel layer is significant or the structural integrity of the biting surface has been compromised our dentist might recommend treating the tooth with a dental crown restoration. This treatment process will essentially replace the tooth’s enamel layer with another durable material.

Once the tooth has been treated you might want to use a dental guard while sleeping. The soft yet durable mouthpiece can cushion the biting surfaces of your teeth to prevent further damage.

If you live in the Dallas, Texas, area and you have a chipped or fractured tooth, you should call 214-613-1279 to have it examined and treated at Lake Highlands Dental.