Dental implants in patients with bruxing habits

Journal of Oral Rehabilitation
Volume 33 Issue 2 Page 152-159, February 2006

Dental implants in patients with bruxing habits
F. LOBBEZOO *, J. E. I. G. BROUWERS *, M.S. CUNE # & M. NAEIJE *
*Department of Oral Function, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), Amsterdam and # Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Prosthodontics and Special Dental Care, University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands

Dr Frank Lobbezoo, Department of Oral Function, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), Louwesweg 1, 1066 EA Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
E-mail: f.lobbezoo@acta.nl

Abstract
summary Bruxism (teeth grinding and clenching) is generally considered a contraindication for dental implants, although the evidence for this is usually based on clinical experience only. So far, studies to the possible cause-and-effect relationship between bruxism and implant failure do not yield consistent and specific outcomes. This is partly because of the large variation in the literature in terms of both the technical aspects and the biological aspects of the study material. Although there is still no proof for the suggestion that bruxism causes an overload of dental implants and of their suprastructures, a careful approach is recommended. There are a few practical guidelines as to minimize the chance of implant failure. Besides the recommendation to reduce or eliminate bruxism itself, these guidelines concern the number and dimensions of the implants, the design of the occlusion and articulation patterns, and the protection of the final result with a hard occlusal stabilization splint (night guard).

Blackwell Synergy? is a Blackwell Publishing, Inc. registered trademark
Partner of CrossRef, COUNTER, AGORA, HINARI and OARE