How Straight Teeth Support Oral Health & Dental Implant Success

Posted on Apr 19, 2021 by William J. Claiborne, DDS MS

As a Periodontist, I often work in conjunction with other dental specialists to provide an optimal outcome at the direction of the patient’s general dentist. By combining our specific skills, we are able to create a complete-care integration of services tailored to attend to unique or complex needs.

For example, as a specialist in the treatment of gum disease and placement of dental implants, my skills are beneficial for ideal outcomes as well as in long-term success. This is especially true when I note signs of bite misalignment in a dental implant patient.

The ‘bite’ refers to how the top row of teeth fit to the bottom row. These upper and lower teeth should “rest” together harmoniously. This fit has a great deal to do with a balanced alignment that is far reaching.

For instance, when teeth are not in proper alignment, there is an interference in the

interaction of biting, chewing and even speaking.  This misalignment can strain the jaw joints as well as the muscles of the face, extending out to neck and shoulder muscles.

Bite misalignment is a common cause of temporomandibular joint (or TMJ) disorder. The TMJ are located on each side of the head and hinge the lower jaw to the skull. Continual stress on these joints can lead to an inflammation that triggers a series of problems.

In most cases, bite misalignment is what triggers night-time clenching and grinding. Known as bruxing, this action can result in chipped, broken and fractured teeth.  Other symptoms associated with a misaligned bite – and thus, TMJ problems – include frequent headaches and migraines, ear ringing, dizziness and difficulty opening the mouth fully.

As an Asheville periodontist, I also see how bite misalignment can cause the gums to recede. This occurs as misaligned teeth tilt or turn, which causes an unnatural pulling on the gum tissues surrounding the tooth at its base. As more vulnerable sections of the tooth are exposed, the risks for developing cavities and gum disease increases.

When it comes to dental implants, success rates can be greatly compromised with the presence of clenching and grinding. Here’s why…

A dental implant is placed in the jaw bone, serving as a replacement tooth root. During the first 3 – 6 months, the bone grows around it, securing it firmly into the bone surrounding it. This process is known as osseo-integration.

It is during this time that an implant is most vulnerable to the forces that clenching and grinding exert. When you consider that implants require up to 6 months to become fully integrated into the bone structure, the stress from grinding or clenching can disrupt this process.

According to an analysis published in Dental Implants (Oct. 2015), and using data from ten publications, bruxers experienced a 6.45 failure rate (as compared to 3.65 in non-bruxers.(https://journals.lww.com/implantdent/fulltext/2015/10000/bruxism_and_dental_implants__a_meta_analysis.5.aspx)

My involvement helps to detect what is not always apparent, yet could have a tremendous impact for a successful outcome. Working to help dental implant patients avoid problems in the future is my goal and helps to protect the patient’s investment.

Certainly, misaligned teeth that are crowded or crooked tend to bunch up together. These teeth often form tight angles, creating hard-to-reach areas that make thorough toothbrushing more difficult. As oral bacteria remain, these areas become breeding grounds for an overload of bacteria that run rampant. This can lead to the formation of cavities and the development of gum disease.

The problem of misalignment can result in a vicious cycle: (1) greater risk for gum disease; (2) higher potential for TMJ disorder; (3) increased risk for tooth loss; (4) more likelihood for dental implant failure.

Consider that periodontal (gum) disease is the nation’s leading cause of adult tooth loss. Thus, a condition such as bruxing, which can lead to gum disease, can increase the potential for tooth loss. And, in replacing teeth, bruxing can continue to compromise tooth replacement success (with dental implants or other means, such as crown-&-bridge).

If you’re considering dental implants but suspect you clench or grind your teeth, we’ll discuss ways you can achieve your smile goals and protect your investment.

Call our Asheville periodontal dental office at 828-274-9440 to schedule a consultation.