Occlusal/Bite Adjustment
Rockwall & Paris, Texas
The way your upper and lower teeth come together when you close your mouth is known as your occlusion, or bite. When your bite is properly aligned, your teeth fit together comfortably and make contact in a way that allows you to chew and speak without unnecessary strain. Ideally, your upper teeth should slightly overlap your lower teeth, with each tooth positioned to work together with the others.
When your teeth do not fit together properly, you may have a condition known as malocclusion. This can occur when teeth are crooked, crowded, rotated, or positioned in a way that causes an uneven bite. While some cases of malocclusion are relatively minor, others can affect your oral health and lead to discomfort or difficulty with everyday activities.
If left untreated, malocclusion can contribute to several dental problems, including:
- Bone or gum recession
- TMJ syndromes and disorders
- Bruxism
- Damage to nerves or muscles
- Damage to dental restorations
- Extreme sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures
- Cracked or chipped teeth
- Tooth/teeth loss
- Tooth pain
- Jawbone pain
Fortunately, malocclusion and issues associated with it can often be corrected with an occlusal/bite adjustment, which will relieve your teeth of excess pressure and reduce strain on the jaw joints and bone. To learn more about occlusal/bite adjustment or other services offered in our office, please refer to the following. To schedule an appointment for occlusal/bite adjustment, contact our Rockwall office today at (972) 771-8640 or our Paris office at (903) 785-4832.
Causes of Malocclusion
Although malocclusion is typically a condition that develops as the jaws and teeth grow into adulthood, certain habits or conditions can cause the structure and shape of the jaw to change, such as the following:
- Cleft lip
- Children who continue using a pacifier past the age of three
- Extended bottle feeding
- Children who suck on their thumbs into early childhood
- Trauma that causes jaw or teeth misalignment
- Jaw and/or mouth tumors
- Impacted or abnormally shaped teeth
- Poor oral hygiene habits that result in braces, crowns, or fillings that fit improperly
- Airway obstruction
Occlusal/Bite
Adjustment & Procedure
We will determine whether an occlusal/bite adjustment is necessary by performing a thorough evaluation to determine the underlying cause of your malocclusion and determine available treatment options. This evaluation may include taking 3D images using a dental CT (cone beam CT) scanner, which produces high-quality 3D images of your bone, nerve pathways, soft tissues, and teeth in a single scan and will allow for more precise treatment planning. Following this examination, we will share our findings with you, explain available treatment options, offer our opinion on the best path forward, and answer any questions you may have, then schedule a follow-up appointment, as needed.
Before we begin the occlusal/bite adjustment procedure, we will sometimes administer a local anesthetic to ensure you do not feel any discomfort. Once you are numbed and comfortable, the procedure will begin. Quite often, though, the bite adjustments are so slight and noninvasive that this procedure can often be performed with no anesthetic at all.
If the underlying cause of your malocclusion is due to uneven surfaces on your teeth, it may be possible to correct this issue by simply reshaping the uneven surfaces and testing your bite after the uneven surface is reshaped. Once your occlusion is satisfactory, the procedure will be complete. Your occlusal adjustment may also involve repairing broken, cracked, or chipped teeth or replacing old dental fillings. New dental fillings may also be placed to reshape chipped teeth, and dental crowns can give your tooth more depth, which may correct your bite. For more serious cases of malocclusion, orthodontic treatment may be recommended. Wearing a night guard while sleeping may also be recommended to prevent further damage to your teeth and stop the continued wear they are subjected to if you might be clenching or grinding your teeth at night.
Occlusal/Bite Adjustment
Benefits of Procedure
Following your occlusal/bite adjustment procedure, you can begin to enjoy the benefits of improved oral health and experience greater comfort, due to the fact that you will no longer experience pain that developed due to the malocclusion. If malocclusion was the underlying cause of your bruxism, this may also be corrected following the procedure, though it may still be recommended that you wear a night guard while sleeping. Additionally, because the amount of force you use to eat on a daily basis will decrease, you will cause less wear on your teeth that would otherwise become damaged over time.
Occlusal Adjustment
costs associated
The cost of your occlusal adjustment will depend primarily on the severity of your case, whether additional procedures are necessary, and how many appointments are required. For patients who are covered under a dental insurance plan, although we are not in-network, we will gladly help prepare and file your claim to ensure you receive your maximum reimbursement. Payment is due in full on the day of treatment. We accept cash, check, Visa, Discover, Mastercard, and American Express. If you are concerned about the cost of receiving treatment, please know that we offer our patients Compassionate Finance, which offers a variety of payment solutions with fixed interest rates and manageable monthly payments, and CareCredit®, which offers 24-month payment plans with zero interest, as well as low-interest financing for 24-60 months.
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