Dental Occlusion in Fort Lauderdale, FL

Dental Occlusion refers to the way your teeth meet when you bite them together. All of your teeth should come in contact with each other simultaneously and with minimal force. When this does not happen, your occlusion is unbalanced and problems may result.

A sensor has been designed to test the occlusion of your mouth. The exam is very simple. You simply bite down on the thin sensor, which is comfortably shaped to fit the arch of your mouth. Vivid graphics display tooth contact data immediately and accurately, highlighting each tooth and the force level exerted on that tooth during occlusion. Once the test is completed, a solution to the problem can be achieved.

How common is a crooked bite or dental malocclusion?

According to research, almost 1 in 5 people have a deviation in their bite or a dental malocclusion. In about 2% of people, this can be so severe as to be disfiguring and at or beyond the ability of orthodontic treatments to correct.

What are the symptoms of poor occlusion?

Symptoms of poor occlusion or a malocclusion include:

• Improper teeth alignment
• Difficulty or discomfort while chewing
• Biting of the tongue or inner cheek
• Speech problems
• Mouth breathing
• Changes in facial appearance

What can happen if a dental malocclusion is untreated?

Poor occlusion could result in:

• damaged restorations (crowns, bridges)
• excess force on dental implants (can lead to early failure)
• teeth can become loose, or gums may recede
• TMJ – clicking, grinding, or pain in your jaw joints, ringing or buzzing in your ears, and difficulty in opening or closing your mouth
• flattened, worn teeth
• continual sensitivity of your teeth to temperature changes