Is there any way to fix teeth worn down by bruxism? the front teeth on the bottom of my mouth have been quite worn down by grinding my teeth. i now have a night guard, so it should at least put a stop to it, but i'm wondering if there's anything i can to

This : This is a great question! and a complicated answer. Yes, your teeth can be restored, but due to all of your grinding over the years, you've probably worn down alot of your back teeth, too. To create some space to make your lower (and possibly upper) front teeth longer, your dentist will also need to make your posterior (back) teeth taller. Dentists call this "opening the bite". Your dentist will be trying to increase your vertical dimension to give him/her room to work. I'm not sure what the condition of your posterior teeth are, but as you can see, your request might involve a bit of restorative work. You may need crowns plus root canals and posts, so an extensive exam with radiographs would be necessary to properly treatment plan you.

Crowns : Crowns are only one method of re-gaining your teeth. However, the more important factor here is whether your teeth have erupted over time to compensate for the attrition. The problem is that as the teeth wore down, they probably grew "up" to meet the upper teeth. In that case, you probably have very "short" looking teeth. You must speak to your dentist about seeing a periodontist for a procedure called: esthetic crown lengthening. In this procedure, the dentist removes some of the front bone covering the teeth and repositions the gum tissues "lower". This will allow your crowns or veneers (which can also be used) to look "normal" in size. Best of luck, dr. Zev kaufman.

Spokane, The : Spokane, the first concern is to make sure you have fully prevented further damage from grinding and/clenching, and you have. Unfortunately, your teeth will not grow back, but crowns can restore you to your original tooth structure. Unless severe or an esthetic issue, crowning all your teeth is usually not necessary. Your future should be secure with prevention and crowning the occasional tooth that will fracture due your history of grinding/clenching and continued use. Hope this is helpful, michael i. Wollock, dmd, agd fellow dentistry at suburban square 610-649-0313 www.Dentistryatsuburbansquare.Com.

Crowns : Crowns can make teeth taller, but the complication is the bite. As the teeth have worn down, the bite has adjusted and the teeth now fit together like a puzzle piece. Making only a few taller will not work, so the minimum one is looking at would be to restore an entire arch to "open the bite". It is possible that both arches (upper and lower) would need to be done, so guidance by your dentist is important. Not all dentists have experience with doing this. The solution is not easy, quick or cheap, but those that have chosen to do it have told me they wish they had done it years ago.

Prosthodontist: Yes, Teeth can be restored. BUT, complex problem. Your case should be managed by a board certified prosthodontist (specialist in dental reconstruction).

I would avoid crowns and instead seek a dentist willing to use a strong brand of composite with no drilling. One brand name is Venus Pearl and another is Clearfil. Sometimes some orthodontics can be combined with the bonding - followed by a new guard. If you have reflux a protective night gel should be used in the appliance.

Prosthodontist. First your bruxism will have tube addressed. Then the services of a specialist in restoring intractable cases such as yours who will know the most advanced restorative techniques and materials to help you resolve your problem.