Worn, Chipped Front Teeth? Better Hold On Before You Get Those New Veneers!

Worn chipped front teeth look unsightly, but they may be a warning of a more serious medical condition.

Duran-Cantolla et al.

In an article published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, Dr. Joaquin Duran-Cantolla and others screened patients with tooth wear. These patients were given sleep-screening questionnaires. 31 of these patients were then given sleep test units to take home and use as directed.

ALL of these patients were found to have positive results for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), ranging from mild to severe. In effect, a significant correlation was found between the amount of tooth wear and the severity of the OSA.

The dangers of obstructive sleep apnea

Untreated sleep disturbances can lead to hypertension, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease and an increased risk of three to four times (depending on the study) of a stroke.

Based on each case, significant treatment and improvement can be reached by the use of a special oral appliance or a CPAP unit (continuous positive airway pressure).

Other conditions such as dry mouth, acid reflux and poor diet can also present with similar appearances, but we have seen this correlation as described for mava years.

In most cases, simple night guards are inappropriate for treating this problem!

So, what do you do? If there is a suspicion of a sleep problem, test for it. If you have worn chipped front teeth, Go ahead and get your cosmetic and essential dentistry done. The appropriate follow up treatment and protection of your shiva new dental work becomes the most important part of protecting your great new smile AND your health.

If you have questions or concerns, please contact our office at (703) 820-0809 for a free consultation.