Bruxism is Up – Keep Your Repairs Beautiful and Budget Friendly
While chipping a tooth is often the result of an accident, falls or intense contact sport injuries, chipped teeth can also occur from seemingly harmless daily occurrences such as stress, bruxism, ill-aligned bites, nail biting, chewing on hard foods or surfaces (like ice, candy, or pen caps), or even tongue piercing contact.
As lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic continue in everyday life, people worldwide are facing prolonged bruxism and clenching associated with stress. In addition to this strain, there are also regular life stressors relating to finances, job security, and healthcare costs, making bruxism and jaw clenching reach an all-time high.
Stress-related bruxism often leaves teeth darker, shorter, and cracked and if this is left untreated, it may lead to muscle and joint problems in the jaw, among other consequences. Prosthodontist Dr. Tammy Chen (Manhattan, New York) reported seeing “more tooth fractures in the last six weeks than in the previous six years” among a slew of patient phone calls regarding “jaw pain, tooth sensitivity, achiness in the cheeks, [and] migraines”1.
According to a survey conducted in February 2021 by the ADA Health Policy Institute, over 60% of 2,299 dentists surveyed saw an increase in chipped & cracked teeth among patients2. This increase is directly linked to over 70% of dentists seeing a rise in grinding and clenching3.
While the main treatment lies in eliminating the stressors, teaching stress-management techniques, and using night guards, botox and/or medicine for preventative measures – the enamel previously affected will still need to be restored.
Through the eyes of a dentist, the increase in cases of stress-related chips and fractures can equate to additional chair time, as well as potential overhead. To satisfy doctor and patient’s keen eye for perfection, both efficiency and quality are important to consider when selecting a composite for long lasting restorations.
By prioritizing efficiency and quality of composites used in the smile zone while maintaining high esthetics, the OMNICHROMA family of universal composites make an excellent choice for clinicians. OMNICHROMA’s pioneering Smart Chromatic Technology provides strong, durable, and esthetic restorations with versatile use for every shade of tooth, from A1-D4. Further, it’s supra-nano spherical fillers ensure durability in the smile zone and high gloss, while continuing to shade-match even through a shift in shade such as tooth darkening or post-bleaching treatment4!
Explore the cases below to see how Dr. Ross Nash (Huntersville, NC) uses OMNICHROMA and OMNICHROMA BLOCKER to restore small chips in his patient’s smiles!
Case #1 Chipped Central Incisors & Diastema
A 62-year-old male with chipped central incisors and a diastema. OMNICHROMA BLOCKER and OMNICHROMA were used to place direct veneers for both teeth. While the patient’s shade was taken as A1, there was no need for additional composite outside of OMNICHROMA due to its shade-matching ability.
Case #2 Class IV Porcelain Repair
A 60-year-old female presented with a chip in the incisal edge of #9. A Mesial Incisal Facial Class IV repair was done with OMNICHROMA BLOCKER and OMNICHROMA. Although the patient’s shade was taken as A1, there was no need for additional composite outside of OMNICHROMA due to its shade-matching ability.
Case #3 Incisal Edge #25
A 74-year-old female with a chipped incisal edge of #25. Incisal edge of #25 was restored using OMNICHROMA BLOCKER and OMNICHROMA. Although the patient’s shade was taken as A1, there was no need for additional composite outside of OMNICHROMA due to its shade-matching ability. Post-operative images were taken one month following procedures in February of 2020.
Curious About How to Use a One-Shade Universal Composite?
Click the video below to watch as Dr. Kevin Brown (Bellevue, WA) repairs a Class IV fracture on Tooth #8 and a chipped edge on Tooth #9 using OMNICHROMA, OMNICHROMA Blocker, and a putty matrix to create a natural, layered, dentin effect.
OMNICHROMA provides you and your patient with a
fast, esthetic, durable and cost-effective solution.
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Request your sample for OMNICHROMA today!*
*Limit 1 sample kit per doctor. Use Code: OHGNA. While supplies last. Offer valid 1/1/2022 to 2/1/2022 and in the US and Canada only. Must not have sampled OMNICHROMA within 365 days of last request. For evaluation purposes only. Participating doctors or dentists are obligated to properly report and reflect any bonus product, rewards, rebates, discounts or other benefit they receive on their submissions to Medicare, Medicaid, state or federally funded healthcare program and/or private insurance. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery of sample.
References:
- Chen, Tammy. “A Dentist Sees More Cracked Teeth … – The New York Times.” The New York Times, 28 Sept. 2020, https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/08/well/live/dentists-tooth-teeth-cracks-fractures-coronavirus-stress-grinding.html.
- “COVID-19: Economic Impact on Dental Practices Week of February 15 Results.” COVID-19: Economic Impact on Dental Practices, American Dental Association, https://f.hubspotusercontent40.net/hubfs/4088199/ADA%20COVID-10%20Panel%20Full%20Summary%20Report%20February%2015.pdf
- New Survey Finds Stress-Related Dental Conditions Continue to Increase, American Dental Association, 2 Mar. 2021, https://www.ada.org/about/press-releases/2021-archives/new-survey-finds-stress-related-dental-conditions-continue-to-increase .
