Bite Occlusion in Leeds

FAQ'S ABOUT DENTAL OCCLUSION LS1 DENTAL LEEDS

What is dental occlusion?
Dental occlusion is the medical terminology for how your come together and meet when you bite

What kind of occlusion problems could I have?
If your teeth do not bite together properly, you can have problems with your teeth gums and the temporo-mandibular joint (TMJ) or the muscles that move your jaw:

Teeth
Signs of occlusion that can be evident from examining your teeth include teeth that are out of line, heavily worn through excessive grinding or constantly breaking, fillings that fracture or crowns that work loose

Gums
Loose teeth or receding gums can be made worse by a faulty bite.

TMJ
Clicking, grinding or pain in your jaw joints, ringing or buzzing in your ears and difficulty in opening or closing your mouth could all be due to your teeth not meeting each other properly.

Muscles
If your jaw is in the wrong position, the muscles that move the jaw have to work a lot harder and can get tired which can result in headaches, pain behind your eyes, sinus pain and discomfort in your neck and shoulders.

How can I tell if I have a dental occlusion problem?

• Symptoms of dental occlusion problems include:
• Clenching or grinding your teeth a lot
• A stiff jaw or tender jaw first thing in the morning or when you bite together.
• Severe headaches, or neck and shoulder pain,
• Pain or discomfort around your ears or jaw joints and difficulty in moving your jaw.

What treatments are available for dental occlusion?

The treatment depends on the individual case and following a consultation with your dentist in Leeds you will be given a better idea of which treatment is best suited for you.

Tooth Adjustment
Your teeth may need to be carefully adjusted to meet evenly, using an orthodontic appliance. Changing the direction and position of the slopes that guide your teeth together can often help to reposition the jaw.

Replacement of teeth
The TMJ needs equal support from both sides of both jaws. If teeth are missing it can upset this balance and cause occlusion problems Missing teeth can be replaced with a partial denture, bridges or dental implants.

Medication
Some drugs can help in certain cases, but this is usually only temporary. Hormone replacement therapy may also help some women.

Diet and Exercise
As with any joint pain, it can help to put less stress on the joint. So a soft diet can be helpful, as can corrective exercises and external heat. Physiotherapy exercises can often help, and your dentist may be able to show some of these to you.

Relaxation
Counseling and relaxation therapy may help in some cases. These techniques help the patient to become more aware of stressful situations and to control tension.