When you get prosthodontics, you expect that the crowns, bridges or caps will hold up better than your usual teeth. This isn’t necessarily the case, and one of the number-one reasons people need prosthodontics in the first place is because of self-induced damage to their teeth through clenching or grinding their teeth. We’re going to go through some ways you can figure out if this is a problem for you and what you can do to prevent it.

Many people are completely unaware that they grind or clench their teeth frequently. It’s a habit that can carry over from childhood, and since it isn’t as obvious as other general dentistry no-nos like sucking one’s thumb, parents may not notice the habit has developed.

As you get older, the habit continues, and you may never be aware that you have been doing it for years. Even your dentist may not be able to successfully identify the problem as teeth grinding, since it can look like a number of other problems.

Try to pay extra attention to the way you hold your jaw. You may clench your teeth when:

* You are thinking hard or concentrating
* You are angry, upset, or stressed
* You are sleeping and having erratic dreams
* You are focusing on a repetitive task

If you frequently do any of these activities, try to tune in every now and then and note the position of your jaw.

Some people never notice that they are grinding or clenching their teeth and damaging their prosthodontics, but they may be able to notice the after-effects. You may notice that your teeth ache slightly or feel strained, or that your jaw is a little stiff. Especially when sleeping, take note if your jaw feels tired or stiff when you wake up. Obviously you’ll find it very difficult to see if you’re grinding your teeth in your sleep, so the after-effects may be the only way to find out what’s happening.

If you can break the habit of clenching or grinding your teeth, your crowns, bridges and caps will last much longer. It may even be the reason you needed prosthodontics in the first place, so learning to break the habit could keep you from more work in the future.

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