Occlusal Disease

Occlusal disease is fairly common, and with treatment from our expert prosthodontists, a patient’s oral function can be restored. Occlusal disease affects how we bite down when we chew or speak, and can cause problems not only with our oral health, but our overall health, too. Bite problems can lead to jaw pain, headaches, and even neck and shoulder pain can all be related to a bad bite.

What exactly is occlusal disease?

Occlusal disease occurs when a person’s bite is not lined up properly. While this may not seem like a big deal, overtime, a misaligned bite can wreak havoc on your smile and health. The jawbone and jaw muscles can be affected, as well as the teeth.

What are symptoms of occlusal disease?

If you are able to recognize the symptoms of occlusal disease, you can seek treatment much earlier. Signs to look for include:

• Surfaces of teeth have excess wear
• Loose teeth
• Sensitivity
• Fractures
• Headaches
• Painful or inflamed jaw

These symptoms occur because of the improper force being applied when biting down. Your teeth can wear down or become loosened because of the friction being placed when your bite is misaligned.

How is occlusal disease treated?

To prevent damage to the teeth, early diagnosis and treatment is important. The earlier we can catch the issue, the easier it will be to treat it. Our prosthodontists will take an impression of your teeth from which we can analyze your bite to discover the source of your issue. Your treatment will depend on the severity of your condition.

Some patients benefit from slight shaping of the teeth or restorations to slightly alter the teeth to allow for proper alignment. Those with more severe cases may require orthodontic treatment to correct the jaws and alignment of the teeth.

How is occlusal disease diagnosed?

Standard dental exams do not usually look for occlusal disease, but if you have any of the above symptoms, it is important to point them out to your dentist at your general checkup. If you are being seen by one of our prosthodontists, they will perform a thorough exam during which they will look for other possible problems that could be causing your symptoms.

The goal of our prosthodontists is to create a stable, harmonious bite. If left untreated, your symptoms will only worsen and it could lead to the loss of teeth.