You can wear a night guard over a crown while you sleep. Dentists recommend that you wear one, especially if you suffer from teeth grinding and clenching. This is so that the crown retains its size and shape as long as possible.
You should guard your dental crown like a jealous lover if you’ve recently installed one, especially if you suffer from any form of teeth clenching and grinding.
There are many ways to do this, including maintaining proper oral hygiene, avoiding chewing on hard substances, avoiding sports without a mouthguard, and more.
In this article, we examine if you can wear a night guard over a crown and answer other pertinent questions related to night guards and dental crowns.
CAN BRUXISM WEAR DOWN CROWNS?
Bruxism is simply medical speak for teeth grinding and clenching. When unchecked, it can wreak havoc on your smile and damage any restorative dental procedures, like crowns, that you may have done.
It’s not unexpected for someone with bruxism to have chipped or cracked teeth and enamel loss or erosion. The tooth enamel is considered the “hardest substance in the human body.”
Logically, it’s safe to conclude that if teeth grinding can affect natural teeth, it can affect dental crowns, especially those made with pressed ceramic, all-ceramic or porcelain, and all-resin.
Other types, like metal and porcelain-fused-to-metal dental crowns, may withstand mild to moderate bruxism.
CAN NIGHT GUARDS PROTECT YOUR CROWNS?
Night guards can provide some protection to dental crowns, although their primary purpose is to protect the natural teeth and alleviate the symptoms of teeth grinding or clenching (bruxism) during sleep.
Constant and consistent teeth grinding gradually wears off the protective layer of your teeth. This protective layer is known as the enamel.
Night guards can provide a cushioning effect by absorbing and distributing the forces generated by grinding or clenching. This can help protect not only the natural teeth but also the underlying structure supporting the dental crowns.
Enamel is a hard substance, the hardest in the human body. So when the upper and lower teeth clash, it’s a fierce battle. Unfortunately, your teeth pay the price, thanks to the friction between your upper and lower teeth.
This reminds me of the proverb I read online some time ago: “When two elephants fight, it’s the ground that suffers.”
Using a night guard adds a new layer between your upper and lower teeth, thus preventing tooth-to-tooth friction during teeth grinding. Teeth grinding is one of the ways you can damage your crowns.
So if you can prevent grinding, you’ve eliminated one of the factors that can prevent your crowns from lasting as long as they should.
WILL YOUR NIGHT GUARD STILL FIT AFTER A CROWN?
Most night guards are placed over the maxillary (upper) teeth, so a new crown on the lower teeth will not affect the fit of the night guard. You may, however, need a new night guard if the crown is fitted on the upper teeth.
Dental crowns can alter the shape and size of your teeth. So, it’s highly likely that your night guard may not fit like before if you install a new dental crown.
It’s worth remembering that quality night guards are made to fit your teeth perfectly. That way, they will feel comfortable and won’t interfere with your sleep.
CAN YOU WEAR A NIGHT GUARD WITH A TEMPORARY CROWN?
Dentists recommend that you wear a night guard when you get a dental crown, whether it’s temporary or permanent, to prevent it from damage. Doing this will prevent the crown from damage caused by bruxism.
Temporary crowns are placeholders till your dentist makes the permanent ones. Dentists typically recommend crowns to cover damaged or decayed teeth.
You should take the same precautions as you would with a permanent crown. Such precautions include practicing good oral hygiene, wearing a night guard, and using a mouthguard if you engage in sports.
TAKEAWAY: PROTECT YOUR SMILE WITH A NIGHTGUARD
Sleeping without a night guard when you’ve recently installed dental crowns is like fixing a home security system and leaving the passcode on the internet.
This is particularly true if you suffer from teeth grinding and clenching. Wearing a night guard will help you extend the life of your crown, ensuring they last up to 15 years with good dental hygiene.
MYMOFOSMILE provides perfect-fit night guards to protect your crowns while sleeping. Guards from MYMOFOSMILE are made with dentist-grade quality and are BPA and latex free. Whether you endure light, severe, or moderate teeth grinding, there’s a night guard for you from MYMOFOSMILE.
