Teeth grinding and bruxism in Las Vegas.
Grinding and clenching wear teeth down, crack restorations, and change how your bite fits together. When bruxism has done real damage, treatment takes more than a generic night guard. That is where prosthodontic planning matters.
Las Vegas Prosthodontics · 851 S Rampart Blvd, Suite 250, Summerlin · Board Certified Prosthodontist Joshua Renk, DDS, MSD
What is bruxism?
Bruxism means grinding or clenching your teeth, usually at night but sometimes during the day. Many people do not realize they do it until a dentist points out worn edges, flattened chewing surfaces, or restorations that keep breaking.
Over months and years, those forces shorten teeth, open the bite, and load the jaw muscles and joints. What starts as a habit can end up as a functional problem that affects how you chew and how long your dentistry lasts.
Signs you may be grinding your teeth
Patients in Las Vegas and Summerlin often come in after noticing one or more of these patterns:
Common symptoms and damage
- Teeth that look shorter, flat, or chipped along the edges
- Crowns, veneers, or fillings that fracture or debond repeatedly
- Morning jaw soreness, tension headaches, or ear-area discomfort
- Sensitivity as enamel thins and dentin is exposed
- A bite that feels different or “collapsed” compared to years ago
- A partner hearing grinding or clicking during sleep
How we approach teeth grinding
At Las Vegas Prosthodontics, bruxism is treated as a functional problem, not a one-size night guard. Joshua Renk, DDS, MSD evaluates how your teeth meet, how force is distributed, and how much structure has already been lost.
Care may include:
- Custom occlusal splints or night guards designed for your bite, not off-the-shelf plastic
- Bite analysis and adjustment before new restorations are placed
- Repair or replacement of worn or broken crowns and veneers
- Full mouth rehabilitation when grinding has worn multiple teeth and changed the bite
Planning follows the same sequence we use for every complex case: stabilize health, restore function, then refine esthetics. Grinding forces are accounted for in the design so new work is built to survive daily life.
Why see a prosthodontist for bruxism?
General dentists often fit night guards for mild grinding. When wear is advanced, restorations keep failing, or the bite has changed, a prosthodontist brings specialty training in occlusion and rebuilding teeth.
Dr. Renk completed a three-year ADA-accredited prosthodontics residency and is Board Certified by the American Board of Prosthodontics. Our on-site laboratory supports precise splints and restorations without the back-and-forth delays common in outsourced cases.
Teeth grinding treatment in Summerlin, Las Vegas
Las Vegas Prosthodontics is located at 851 S Rampart Blvd, Suite 250 in the Summerlin area. Patients visit us from across Las Vegas when grinding has worn teeth down or broken previous dentistry.
We are currently accepting new patients. No referral is required, though many general dentists send patients when wear needs specialist-level planning.
What patients ask about grinding and bruxism.
What is bruxism?
Bruxism is habitual grinding or clenching of the teeth. It often happens during sleep but can occur during the day. Over time it can wear teeth flat, crack restorations, and strain the jaw muscles and joints.
How do I know if I grind my teeth?
Common signs include waking with jaw soreness, headaches, worn or shortened teeth, chipped edges, sensitivity, and partners hearing grinding at night. A dental exam with bite analysis can confirm the pattern and severity.
Can teeth grinding wear down my teeth?
Yes. Chronic grinding removes enamel and dentin over years, shortening teeth and changing bite height. Severe wear often requires prosthodontic rehabilitation, not just a night guard.
Is a night guard enough for bruxism?
A well-made occlusal splint or night guard can protect teeth when wear is mild to moderate. When grinding has already damaged multiple teeth, changed the bite, or broken previous dentistry, a prosthodontist plans broader treatment to restore function and protect the result long term.
Why see a prosthodontist for teeth grinding in Las Vegas?
Prosthodontists train in occlusion, bite forces, and restoring teeth destroyed by parafunction. Joshua Renk, DDS, MSD is a Board Certified Prosthodontist who treats grinding-related wear as part of health-first, function-first planning.
Do I need a referral for bruxism treatment?
No referral is required. Call (702) 263-4300 or request a consultation online. Many patients are referred by general dentists when wear or broken restorations need specialist planning.
Worried about grinding damage?
Board Certified Prosthodontist care in Summerlin, Las Vegas. New patients welcome. No referral required.