Bite Correction

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Bite Correction (Call us at 408-719-8600)

Overview:

Not everyone is born with perfect teeth. Many people have a misaligned bite, also called a malocclusion. An ideal bite means that your upper teeth fit slightly
over the lower teeth. Are there different types of bites? And can they be corrected? Yes and yes. Bite correction can align teeth, fixing any misalignment, such as a cross bite or a deep bite. Teeth alignment essentially corrects whatever is causing the misalignment. Bite correction can properly align the teeth, alleviate pain, allow the mouth to close better and of course, make your smile more attractive.

Even a slight malocclusion can put extra pressure on the muscles and teeth. Many people may not even know that they have a malocclusion until a dentist tells them. For some people though, a cross bite or deep bite can also cause a more serious and painful condition called TMJ.

About TMJ:

A study released in 2008 from a leading university in Finland, The University of Oulu followed TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorder) patients through dental treatments. They found a significant decrease in the patients’ symptoms after all the treatments. TMJ can be an extremely painful side effect of malocclusion. The symptoms include: stiff and tender jaws, headaches and ear pain.

Do You Need Bite Correction Treatment?

You are a candidate for bite correction if you have any of the following conditions:

  • A misaligned bite
  • A malocclusion
  • A cross bite
  • A deep bite
  • TMJ

The Treatment:

Can a bite correction procedure be done without dental surgery? Absolutely. It may take as few as one or two dentist visits for your teeth alignment program, depending on the extent of your malocclusion. Orthodontics, like dental braces, retainers or Invisalign® can be used to align teeth in order to correct the bite. Some people might simply need night guards to stop them from grinding their teeth while sleeping, since that can cause malocclusion. Sometimes teeth alignment can be as simple as a little tooth reshaping. Reshaping teeth can align teeth simply by shaving a few teeth so that the mouth closes properly.

Dental Research:

Orthodontic bite correction is an effective strategy to correct a malocclusion. A 2007 Italian study found that orthodontics is a long term fix for a malocclusion but must be followed up with continuing care. Not every malocclusion is severe enough to cause pain, but a misaligned bite can make daily oral hygiene difficult and lead to unnecessary dental problems. A study from the University of Peru released in 2008 looked at the effect of malocclusions on adolescents in Britain. They found that malocclusions affected these young adults both physically and psychologically.

Bite Correction Procedures in Our Dental Office:

Do not allow a bite problem to make you feel self conscious, embarrassed to smile or prevent you from feeling confident in any situation. If you face any of these issues, call our office for an appointment. Chances are your cross bite or deep bite is affecting you in more ways than you realize. Our dental office will provide detailed information, after an examination, to help you find the right bite correction solution and get you the smile you always wanted.

References:

Bernabe E, Sheiham A, de Oliveira CM. Impacts on daily performances attributed to malocclusions by British adolescents. Journal of Oral Rehabilitation. 2008; In Press.
Capurso U, Marini I. Orthodontic treatment of TMJ disc displacement with pain: an 18 year follow-up. Progress in Orthodontics. 2007;8(2):240-250.
Rusanen J, Pirttiniemi P, Tervonen O, Raustia A. MRI of TMJ patients with severe skeletal malocclusion following surgical/orthodontic treatment. Cranio. 2008;26(3):182-190.