Crowns and Veneers When You Grind Your Teeth
This page is general information and does not replace an examination.
Yes, people who grind their teeth can have crowns and veneers, but grinding raises the risk: in a 20-year study, veneers in patients who grind had a 7.7 times greater risk of failure, and in a 2024 meta-analysis implants in probable bruxers had about twice the odds of failure. Protection means planning the material and design, a hard night guard and regular checks. At Ulubey Dental Clinic in Antalya the night guard is €80 on its own and included with veneers.
- 1. Can you have crowns or veneers if you grind?
- 2. What grinding does to dental work
- 3. Material and design choices
- 4. The night guard: what it protects and what it does not
- 5. Implants in people who grind
- 6. Grinding and the guarantee
- 7. Signs your dental work is under strain
- 8. How we plan for patients who grind
- 9. Frequently asked questions
- 10. Sources
Can you have crowns or veneers if you grind?
Yes, in most cases, but grinding has to be part of the plan. The ADA notes that veneers may not be a good choice if you clench or grind your teeth or have a deep overbite[2], and the studies below show why. What they also show is that the risk can be reduced: by choosing the restoration and material with the bite in mind, and by protecting the finished work at night.
This page is about protecting crowns, veneers, bridges and implants. For grinding itself, its causes, symptoms and how it is diagnosed, see our guide to teeth grinding (bruxism). Experts now describe bruxism in otherwise healthy people as a behaviour that can be a risk factor for problems such as tooth damage, rather than a disorder in itself[9]; for dental work, that risk is exactly what we plan around.
What grinding does to dental work
Grinding can wear down or break teeth and cause the loss of fillings[1]. The same forces act on restorations:
| Restoration | What studies report | Main protection |
|---|---|---|
| Porcelain veneers | 7.7 times greater risk of failure in a 20-year study[3]; in another study, 8 of 13 fractures and 22 of 29 debondings were related to bruxism[4] | Night guard; occlusal splints reduced the risk of fractures[4] |
| Crowns | Across 64 studies of single crowns, monolithic designs had less fracture and chipping than veneered (layered) ones[5] | Monolithic design where suitable; night guard |
| Implants | Higher odds of implant failure (OR 2.19)[6]; grinding is more clearly linked to mechanical problems with the parts and crowns than to biological ones[7] | Grinding taken into account in the implant plan; night guard |
| Natural teeth and fillings | Worn-down or broken teeth, sensitivity, lost fillings[1] | Night guard; early repair |
Most studies identified grinding by questionnaire or clinical signs, so the size of the risk varies between studies.
Material and design choices
A 2026 meta-analysis of 64 studies on single crowns found 5-year survival of 98.5% for monolithic lithium disilicate (E.max-type) crowns and 96.8% for monolithic zirconia crowns, and concluded that monolithic designs reduce the risk of fracture and chipping compared with veneered (layered) crowns[5]. For someone who grinds, that makes a monolithic crown, milled or pressed in one piece without a layer of porcelain on top, the usual starting point.
| Material | Typical use | If you grind | Price per tooth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monolithic zirconia crown (Amann Girrbach) | Back teeth and bridges | One piece without a porcelain layer; night guard still required | €185 |
| E.max crown (Ivoclar IPS e.max) | Front teeth, where appearance matters most | Glass ceramic; night guard required | €250 |
| E.max laminate veneer | Front teeth: shape and colour | Higher failure risk with grinding[3]; night guard included with veneers | €250 |
| Zirconia veneer (Amann Girrbach) | Front teeth | Night guard included with veneers | €185 |
| Composite veneer | Smaller changes | Less wear-resistant than ceramic but easier to repair[2] | €120 |
Prices as listed on our dental treatment prices page, October 2026. Which material suits each tooth is decided at the examination, together with you.
No material is grind-proof. Zirconia’s strength does not cancel the guarantee condition: crown and bridge guarantees exclude fracture due to bruxism (teeth grinding), and patients who grind their teeth must wear the night guard we provide. Our comparison of zirconia and porcelain crowns and the explainer what is a zirconia crown go into the materials in more detail.
Design matters as much as material. If you grind, we look at how the teeth meet, where the forces fall, and whether some teeth are better treated with a crown or a different restoration than with a veneer, and we tell you if we think veneers are not a good choice for you[2].
The night guard: what it protects and what it does not
A night guard (occlusal splint) sits over the teeth while you sleep and takes the grinding forces instead of your teeth and dental work. Be clear about its limits: a Cochrane review found insufficient evidence that occlusal splints treat sleep bruxism itself, although they may help with tooth wear[8]. In one veneer study, the use of occlusal splints reduced the risk of fractures[4]. In other words, the guard protects your crowns and veneers; it does not stop the habit.
- Our night guard: hard, made in the clinic, €80 on its own and included with veneers.
- Timing: it can be ready within 2–3 hours when urgent, which suits visitors on a short stay; it is needed from the day the final work is fitted.
- Check-ups: bring the guard to your check-ups, so we can see the wear on it as well as on your teeth.
The NHS also suggests ways to reduce grinding, such as relaxation, better sleep habits and cutting down on alcohol and caffeine[1]. When jaw pain comes with grinding, see our guide to TMJ and jaw pain.
Implants in people who grind
A 2024 systematic review of 27 studies, with 2,105 implants in probable bruxers and 10,264 in non-bruxers, found that implants in probable bruxers had a significantly higher risk of failure (odds ratio 2.19)[6]. An earlier review concluded that grinding is unlikely to be a risk factor for biological problems around implants but may be a risk factor for mechanical complications, such as broken parts or crowns[7]. Grinding is therefore taken into account in every implant plan, and the night guard protects implant crowns and bridges as well. On the implant itself: the manufacturer’s lifetime guarantee on the implant fixture is conditional on attending recommended check-ups. A fixture guarantee does not mean that every implant integrates: smoking, uncontrolled diabetes and gum health affect the result. See dental implants.
Grinding and the guarantee
- Crowns and bridges: 10-year fracture guarantee on Amann Girrbach zirconia crowns and bridges made at our partner lab; 5-year clinic guarantee on crowns and bridges in other materials; crown and bridge guarantees exclude fracture due to bruxism (teeth grinding), and patients who grind their teeth must wear the night guard we provide. All guarantees are conditional on attending recommended check-ups and cover the prosthesis, not the root canal or filling beneath it.
- Veneers: 5-year guarantee on E.max veneers against fracture or debonding (excluding trauma, and bruxism without the night guard we provide); zirconia veneers carry the same 5-year clinic guarantee, not the 10-year Amann Girrbach guarantee, which applies to zirconia crowns and bridges.
- Yearly check-up: at our clinic in Antalya (no fee for the check-up) or with any licensed dentist where you live, who sends us an X-ray, 5 photos and a short note; Dr. Ali Cem Ulubey or Dr. Surur Ulubey reviews them in writing within 7 days.
We are open about why the exclusion exists: the studies above show that grinding without protection is one of the main reasons ceramic work fails. The guarantee and the night guard work together. Full terms are in our written dental guarantee.
Signs your dental work is under strain
Contact us, with photos on WhatsApp if you are abroad, if you notice:
- a small chip or rough edge on a crown or veneer;
- a crown or veneer that feels loose or has come off;
- a painful jaw, headaches or earache, especially in the morning[1];
- worn-down or broken teeth, or sensitive teeth[1];
- a night guard that is cracked, worn through or no longer fits.
Small problems found early are easier to fix. Our page on whitening, repairing or removing veneers explains what can be repaired and what needs replacing.
How we plan for patients who grind
Ulubey Dental Clinic is run by two dentists, Dr. Ali Cem Ulubey and Dr. Surur Ulubey; there are no rotating dentists. If you know or suspect that you grind, tell us at the first visit:
- Examination: teeth, fillings, crowns, jaw muscles and jaw joint, with a panoramic X-ray.
- Plan: grinding is taken into account in every crown, bridge, veneer and implant plan, including the choice of material and design.
- Treatment: crowns and veneers are made in our digital workflow with the Dentsply Sirona Primescan and our partner laboratory; see our 5-working-day crown and veneer trip for the days.
- Protection: the hard night guard from the day the final work is fitted.
- Follow-up: WhatsApp check-ins at 30, 90 and 365 days and the yearly check-up.
Prices for every item are on our dental treatment prices page; the zirconia crown cost calculator gives a first estimate. Prices are indicative; your final written quote follows the examination and X-rays and is valid for 30 days. Unless the treatment plan changes, the written price does not change.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get veneers if I grind my teeth?
Often yes, but grinding raises the risk: in a 20-year study, veneers in patients who grind had a 7.7 times greater risk of failure. If you grind, tell us at the first visit; sometimes a crown or a different restoration suits a tooth better. A custom night guard is included with veneers, and our veneer guarantee excludes bruxism without the night guard we provide.
Are zirconia crowns good for people who grind?
Monolithic zirconia crowns, made in one piece without a porcelain layer, are a common choice for back teeth, and a 2026 meta-analysis found that monolithic crowns chip and fracture less than layered ones. But no material is grind-proof: crown and bridge guarantees exclude fracture due to bruxism, and patients who grind their teeth must wear the night guard we provide.
Does a night guard stop teeth grinding?
No. A Cochrane review found insufficient evidence that occlusal splints treat sleep bruxism itself, although they may help with tooth wear. What the guard does is take the forces instead of your teeth and dental work; in one veneer study, splints reduced the risk of fractures. At our clinic the hard night guard is €80 on its own and included with veneers.
How quickly can I get a night guard in Antalya?
Our night guard is hard and made in the clinic; when it is urgent it can be ready within 2–3 hours, which suits visitors on a short stay. It costs €80 on its own and is included with veneers. If you are having crowns or veneers and you grind, you need it from the day the final work is fitted, so it fits into the same trip.
Can people who grind their teeth have dental implants?
Usually yes, with planning. A 2024 meta-analysis of 27 studies found about twice the odds of implant failure in probable bruxers, and grinding is more clearly linked to mechanical problems with crowns and parts than to problems in the bone. We take grinding into account in the implant plan and protect the implant crowns with a night guard.
Does the guarantee cover a crown that breaks because I grind?
No. Crown and bridge guarantees exclude fracture due to bruxism (teeth grinding), and patients who grind their teeth must wear the night guard we provide; the veneer guarantee excludes bruxism without the night guard. All guarantees are conditional on attending recommended check-ups. Send us photos first if anything chips or comes loose.
Sources
- NHS. Teeth grinding (bruxism) (page last reviewed 8 April 2026; accessed 26 October 2026). www.nhs.uk/symptoms/teeth-grinding
- American Dental Association, MouthHealthy. Veneers (accessed 26 October 2026). www.mouthhealthy.org/all-topics-a-z/veneers
- Beier US, Kapferer I, Burtscher D, Dumfahrt H. Clinical performance of porcelain laminate veneers for up to 20 years. Int J Prosthodont. 2012;25(1):79-85. PMID 22259802. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22259802
- Granell-Ruíz M, Agustín-Panadero R, Fons-Font A, Román-Rodríguez JL, Solá-Ruíz MF. Influence of bruxism on survival of porcelain laminate veneers. Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal. 2014;19(5):e426-e432. PMID 23986018. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23986018
- Pjetursson BE, Pitta J, Balet A, Bjarnadottir GR, Sailer I, Romandini P. A systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the survival, failure, and complication rates of metal-ceramic, veneered, and monolithic all-ceramic tooth-supported single crowns, part 1. Int J Prosthodont. 2026;39(3):308-324. PMID 41489982. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41489982
- Häggman-Henrikson B, Ali D, Aljamal M, Chrcanovic BR. Bruxism and dental implants: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Oral Rehabil. 2024;51(1):202-217. PMID 37589382. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37589382
- Manfredini D, Poggio CE, Lobbezoo F. Is bruxism a risk factor for dental implants? A systematic review of the literature. Clin Implant Dent Relat Res. 2014;16(3):460-469. PMID 23151302. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23151302
- Macedo CR, Silva AB, Machado MA, Saconato H, Prado GF. Occlusal splints for treating sleep bruxism (tooth grinding). Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007;(4):CD005514. PMID 17943862. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17943862
- Lobbezoo F, Ahlberg J, Raphael KG, et al. International consensus on the assessment of bruxism: report of a work in progress. J Oral Rehabil. 2018;45(11):837-844. PMID 29926505. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29926505
This article is general patient information and does not replace a clinical examination or X-rays.
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