How your upper and lower teeth come together is referred to as your dental “bite.” A healthy bite is one in which the teeth fit together precisely in a comfortable manner, with no excessive underbite or overbite.
Many things can cause a bad bite, including poorly placed fillings, dental crowns that are worn or misshapen, crooked or rotated teeth, and excessive wear and tear from tooth grinding and hard foods. At my Boulder dental practice, we diagnose and treat bite problems to avoid the long-term problems that can stem from a bad bite.
Neuromuscular Issues
Problems with your temporomandibular joint (TMJ) can cause a condition called temporomandibular disorder (TMD). TMD refers to a misalignment of the jaw joints, due to dysfunction of the muscles, ligaments, or tendons of the jaw.
Signs you may have a neuromuscular problem include:
- Headaches
- Jaw joint pain
- Clicking or popping in the jaw joints
- Clenching or grinding
- Neck pain
- Tooth sensitivity
- Insomnia
- Fatigue
- Ear congestion
- Limited jaw range of motion
Bad Bite Treatment
An experienced cosmetic dentist can turn your bad bite into a healthy one with advanced dental rehabilitation. The goal of TMJ therapy is to determine the ideal at-rest position of your jaw, and then make the necessary modifications to encourage your upper and lower jaws into this comfortable and functional spot. We are essentially applying the most conservative treatments possible to achieve harmony with your bite. Elements like body posture, oral habits, stress, past dental work, and fitness will be evaluated and tweaked to help you eliminate discomfort.
If after a thorough dental evaluation, we determine that there are neuromuscular problems behind the bad bite, there are a number of TMJ therapies we can apply to help restore the ideal jaw position. Cosmetic dentistry procedures like dental implants and dental crowns are often the only thing standing between you and a healthy bite. Orthodontic treatments like the innovative Invisalign braces are another method of bite improvement that can have great results.
Pure Power Mouthguards also rehabilitate your bite by acting as a splint during times of stress and intensity. Invented by a neuromuscular dentist, the Pure Power Mouthguard encourages alignment of the jaw and facial muscles, helping patients to improve muscle efficiency and spinal alignment.
Personal Bite Evaluation
Your bite can be a factor in many types functional problems because of the inter-relationships of the overall musculoskeletal system. Through new technology, we can evaluate your bite and determine if it is a major contributing factor of your condition.
Book an appointment with us today to check in on the health of your bite and learn more about the benefits of TMJ treatment. Please contact my Boulder, Colorado dental office to schedule a thorough evaluation.
Dr. Ania
Comprehensive & Cosmetic Dentistry
