Dental Occlusion
Understanding how teeth come together and why proper occlusion matters.
Dental occlusion refers to the way upper and lower teeth come together during biting and chewing. Proper occlusion distributes forces evenly across all teeth, protecting them from excessive wear and preventing strain on the jaw joints and muscles. Malocclusion, or improper bite alignment, can lead to a range of problems including tooth wear, fractures, TMJ disorders, and chronic pain. Occlusal analysis is a fundamental part of dental treatment planning. Techniques include visual examination, articulating paper to identify high spots, T-Scan digital occlusal analysis, and mounting study models on an articulator. Understanding a patient's occlusal pattern is essential before placing crowns, bridges, veneers, or implants to ensure longevity of restorations. Occlusal adjustments involve selectively reshaping tooth surfaces to achieve balanced contacts. This may be done through equilibration, orthodontic treatment, or restorative procedures. Night guards protect teeth from the damaging effects of bruxism (grinding) and clenching, which affect occlusal stability over time.