Bite Problems:

Occlusion describes how our teeth fit together and how we chew or function. Healthy biting patterns result in minimal tooth wear, teeth that are stable and pain free jaw muscles and joints.

Bite problems can result in chipped or worn teeth, loose teeth or painful jaw muscles and/or joints. We diagnose the severity of bite problems by evaluating the amount of the following:

Tooth Wear (Occlusal Attrition) - With normal chewing, biting surfaces of teeth wear slightly during our lifetime. Abnormal tooth wear, occlusal attrition, describes the grinding of your teeth with greater force than normal and may result in excessive tooth wear. This can destroy healthy teeth and lead to sensitivity and eventual tooth loss.

Looseness of Teeth - With normal chewing, biting forces do not cause teeth to be loose unless there is an infection of periodontal disease (bone loss). Clenching or excessive biting forces can loosen teeth that have healthy bone. In addition, teeth that do not fit together properly may become loose even during normal chewing. These conditions may lead to discomfort and premature tooth loss.

Muscle & Joint Pain - TMD is a collective term that describes clinical problems in the chewing muscles, temporomandibular joints or both. It can elicit acute facial pain and headaches. TMD can be constant or intermittent and symptoms can vary greatly between individuals.

Night guards have been prescribed for years as a good way of protecting the teeth from excessive wear. While they still are a good option for the protection of teeth, they do not "fix" the problem. We now can diagnose and often treat the cause of the problem often eliminating the need for a lifetime of night guard wear.

How do I know if I have a bite problem?

A healthy bite should be pain free and able to function and chew most normal foods without muscle fatigue. Any "Yes" answers below may indicate signs of bite problems.

1) Do/would you have any problems chewing gum?

2) Do/would you have any problems chewing bagels or other hard foods?

3) Have your teeth changed in the last 5 years becoming shorter, thinner or worn?

4) Are your teeth crowding or developing spaces?

5) Do you have more than one bite position or do you clench (squeeze) to make your teeth fit together?

6) Do you have problems with sleeping or waking up with an awareness of your teeth?

7) Do you have problems with your jaw joint?

8) Do you have tension headaches or sore teeth?

9) Do you wear or have you ever worn a bite appliance?

How do we determine where your bite should be?

We use a simple, short-term, removable appliance called a deprogrammer that you wear for about 3 weeks to help find the "ideal" position for your teeth and jaws. It looks very similar to an orthodontic retainer worn after braces. This "ideal" position is one where the jaws, muscles and teeth are in line and work in harmony. This allows the jaw to seat completely and for the muscles to find their most comfortable position without the teeth interfering. After wearing the deprogrammer you will have a follow up visit where we will record your new jaw position and then analyze it on our special "bite machine." This analysis will help us determine the best treatment recommendation for your specific situation. Depending on the needs of your specific bite we will have some of the following options:

1) Monitor / No treatment at this time.

2) Protect the bite. A custom Night Guard can be made to help protect the teeth. While this option will not fix the bite problem, it helps slow down the destructive processes of a poor bite.

3) Fix the bite by the below options:

A) Adjusting your bite. (Adjusting the hitting positions of your teeth)

B) Moving your bite. (Orthodontics and braces)

C) Rebuilding your bite.

D) Combination of the above.

Once the possible treatment recommendations have been made, we will sit down and discuss these treatment options, costs and the time involved with your treatment. We will work together with you to find the best way to fit your treatment plan into your life, budget and schedule so you may regain confidence and comfort with your mouth.

Start by calling our office today, and schedule a Bite Evaluation Appointment.