Composite Bonding and Teeth Grinding: Can You Still Have It?
This page is for people who grind their teeth and are considering composite bonding. Research describes grinding (bruxism) as a behaviour that can be a risk factor for damage to teeth and dental restorations, and composite can chip or fracture. At Deepcar Dental Care, a night guard is required for composite bonding patients who grind. The page covers signs, general assessment, protection and realistic lifespan.
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Clinically reviewed by Dr Ibraheem Ijaz, dentist · GDC 301711
Medical disclaimer: This page is for general information only. It does not replace an examination or treatment by a dentist.
Dr Ibraheem Ijaz, principal dentist at Deepcar Dental Care, reviewed this page. He is a General Dental Practitioner, GDC 301711.
Can you have composite bonding if you grind your teeth?
Composite bonding can still be an option if you grind your teeth, but grinding can be a risk factor to plan around, and assessment decides. An international consensus on bruxism (Lobbezoo and colleagues, 2018) describes it as jaw-muscle activity during sleep or while awake, such as clenching or grinding the teeth, or bracing the jaw.
In otherwise healthy people, the 2018 consensus says, bruxism should not be considered a disorder, but a behaviour that can be a risk (and/or protective) factor for certain clinical consequences. Its examples include extreme mechanical tooth wear and prosthodontic complications, meaning problems with dental restorations.
What the treatment itself involves is explained on the main composite bonding page.
How does grinding affect composite bonding, and what are the risks?
In a long-term study of back-tooth composite fillings, fracture was the main reason for failure in patients with bruxism-related bite stress. The study (van de Sande and colleagues, 2013) followed 306 posterior composite restorations in 44 adults for 10 to 18 years. Of the 30% that failed, 82% were in patients with caries risk, bruxism-related “occlusal stress”, or both. Secondary caries was the main reason for failure in caries-risk patients. The authors give this within the limits of a retrospective evaluation.
For front teeth, a 2022 study (Lima and colleagues) followed 270 composite restorations on the upper front teeth of 47 people with moderate to severe tooth wear. At 36 months, ditching was present in 12.2% of restorations and fractures in 10.7%, and staining (44%) and loss of lustre (31%) were the most frequent changes on photographs. The authors describe a continuous degradation process. People with grinding, clenching or other parafunctional habits were not excluded, but are not reported separately. The authors also call composite an effective and conservative approach that will most likely show deterioration and perhaps need check-ups more often.
What are the signs that you grind your teeth?
The NHS lists a painful jaw, worn-down or broken teeth, headaches, earache and disturbed sleep among the symptoms of teeth grinding. It says a painful jaw can lead to temporomandibular disorder (TMD), and worn-down or broken teeth can cause increased sensitivity and loss of teeth and fillings. NHS guidance says to see a dentist if you grind your teeth and have tooth damage or sensitive teeth, if you grind your teeth and have pain in your jaw, face or ear, if your partner says you grind your teeth in your sleep, or if you are worried about your child grinding their teeth.
It says to see a GP if you need help with some of the causes, such as stress, anxiety, smoking, drinking too much or taking drugs.
Causes and management are covered on the page about teeth grinding and clenching (bruxism).
How is teeth grinding assessed in general?
The 2018 international bruxism consensus proposes grading bruxism by how it was assessed. Possible bruxism rests on a positive self-report only, probable bruxism on a positive clinical inspection with or without self-report, and definite bruxism on an instrumental recording such as electromyography.
On clinical inspection, the 2018 consensus lists cracked teeth, repeated failures of dental work, and mechanical wear of the teeth (attrition) as possible indicators of bruxism, while noting that wear may reflect past grinding rather than current activity.
The 2018 consensus stresses that its grading is only a proposal, and that research is needed to establish its reliability and validity. It calls self-report the primary tool in research and clinical practice, despite poor agreement with instrumental measures.
If you are considering composite bonding, book an appointment online or call 0114 288 2121.
How can composite bonding be protected if you grind?
NHS guidance says a dentist may recommend a mouth guard or mouth splint, worn at night, to protect your teeth from damage. The same page says treatment for teeth grinding is not always needed.
That guidance concerns protecting teeth in general. How guards are made and worn is covered on the page about protecting your teeth at night.
Is a night guard required with composite bonding at Deepcar Dental Care if you grind?
Yes. At Deepcar Dental Care, a night guard is required for composite bonding patients who grind their teeth. It is not optional.
The night guard is charged separately.
What is a realistic lifespan for composite bonding?
The practice gives around five years as a realistic lifespan for composite bonding in general, and how long it lasts varies from person to person. None of the studies cited on this page gives a lifespan figure for composite bonding in people who grind; they report failure and deterioration rates instead.
For composite bonding at the practice, a review appointment is 2 weeks after treatment, and a professional re-polish is recommended every 6 months. If bonding does chip or break, the page on what to do when bonding chips or breaks sets out the next steps.
Frequently asked questions
Does composite bonding chip if you grind?
It can. Lima and colleagues (2022), citing earlier research, note that parafunctional habits such as tooth grinding could increase the chances of fracture, and that composite deterioration in severe tooth wear may include wear facets, chipping and bulk fractures. In their front-tooth study, fractures at 36 months were mainly small chips, but 2.6% of restorations had front-surface veneer fractures.
Does grinding affect veneers and crowns as well as bonding?
Possibly, but the evidence is not settled. A 2019 umbrella review of systematic reviews reported findings suggesting that bruxism might result in biomechanical complications with dental implants, while evidence was inconclusive regarding other dental restorations. Which restoration suits a tooth in someone who grinds is an individual clinical decision.
What does a night guard do for teeth grinding?
NHS guidance says mouth guards and splints are worn at night and protect your teeth from damage. It lists them under treatments for teeth grinding. A 2019 umbrella review reported findings suggesting that occlusal appliances were considered effective for bruxism management, although evidence for other therapies was considered weak.
Can composite rebuild severely worn teeth?
Sometimes. In Mehta and colleagues' 2021 full-mouth composite study in severe tooth wear, 2.3% of restorations failed catastrophically at 5.5 years, with yearly failure rates at all levels up to 2.9%. Molar, lower back-tooth and multi-session front-tooth restorations were associated with higher failure risks. Deepcar Dental Care offers composite on worn back teeth to rebuild the bite.
Are some front teeth more at risk with composite?
On some measures. In a 2022 study of upper front-tooth composite in tooth wear (Lima and colleagues), canines had 5.5 times more chances of deterioration by ditching than incisors, and higher chances in incisal contour and wear, but lower chances in surface lustre. Citing earlier research, the authors note that canines are subjected to higher occlusal loads than incisors.
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Other suitability questions for composite bonding are among the options in this section.
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