Bite (Occlusal) Disease

Bite (Occlusal) Disease: During comprehensive exam we can screen you for the presence or absence of occlussal or bite problems. We look for specific signs and symptoms that are suggestive of occlusal disease and determine whether your bite is pathologic or adapted. Pathologic occlusion (bite) will lead to future oral health problem if left untreated.

The 7 signs and symptoms of Occlusal Disease are:

1. Wear and fractures of teeth/restorations.

2. Hypersensitivity of teeth.

3. Excessive mobility of teeth.

4. Fremitus- Fremitus is the vibration we feel in teeth when the patient “chop-chops” on their natural bite or in maximum intercuspal occlusion.

5. Abfractions-These very controversial noncarious lesions are usually caused by damaging bite forces but, like most diseases processes, these lesions are multifactorial.

6. Bone loss or localized bone destruction. A bad bite can exacerbate periodontal disease and cause more bone loss.

7. Pain and tired facial and masticatory muscles or TMJ pain

Treatment for Occlusal Disease

Treatment starts with making impression of your teeth to make replicas of your upper and lower teeth. Careful analysis of your bite is then performed with the help of an instrument called articulator (an instrument that simulates three dimensional jaw movements). At this point we can make a determination on the required treatment. The treatment depends upon the severity of the condition. The patient may also be offered a protective night guard as a basic preventive measure to decrease the damage being caused by Occlusal Disease. Occlusal equilibration or adjustment is sometimes performed with the belief that this will redistribute forces evenly across the dental arches and/or achieve a more favorable position of the condyles in the fossae.