Ground Down Teeth – Causes & Treatment in Basingstoke
Grinding and clenching your teeth — known clinically as bruxism — is a common condition that often happens involuntarily during sleep or periods of high stress. Over time, the enormous forces exerted can grind down teeth, leaving them flat, short, sensitive, and prone to cracking.
What Causes Teeth to Become Ground Down?
Bruxism can exert up to 250 lbs of force per square inch on your teeth — far more than normal chewing. Common causes include chronic stress and anxiety, sleep disorders (such as sleep apnoea), bite misalignments, caffeine or alcohol intake, and certain medications.
How We Treat Ground Down Teeth
Our comprehensive approach treats both the underlying grinding habit and the resulting tooth damage. We protect teeth with custom night splints and rebuild lost tooth height using minimally invasive composite bonding or durable ceramic onlays.
Why It's Important to Treat Ground Down Teeth
Leaving bruxism untreated causes progressive loss of tooth structure, nerve exposure, jaw joint damage, and a collapsed facial profile. Early treatment prevents complex tooth rebuilds and relieves chronic facial pain.
Common Signs & Symptoms
How Hampshire Dental Care Can Help
We provide targeted, evidence-based treatments designed to resolve the root cause of your concern and protect your oral health.
Custom Occlusal Night Guard
Bespoke hard/soft acrylic night splint to cushion clenching forces and prevent enamel wear from £195.
Composite Edge Bonding
Rebuild worn-down incisal edges and restore original tooth shape conservatively without drilling.
Ceramic Crowns & Onlays
High-strength ceramic restorations to reconstruct severely worn biting surfaces and restore vertical bite height.
Masseter Muscle Relaxing Injections
Targeted medical neuromodulator injections to relax overactive chewing muscles and reduce grinding force by 60–80%.
Prevention & Long-Term Care Tips
- Wear your custom night guard consistently every night
- Incorporate evening stress-reduction techniques before bed
- Avoid caffeine and alcohol within 4 hours of bedtime
- Attend regular check-ups to monitor wear facets
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about ground down teeth and available treatments at our Basingstoke clinic.
Ready to restore your smile?
Book a comprehensive consultation with our experienced dental team at Hampshire Dental Care. Free on-site parking available.