‘Dental occlusion’ is a term used to describe how your teeth meet when you bite together. Your teeth are designed to come together in a specific way for your bite to function properly.
When the muscles and joints of the jaw work together in harmony, it results in a healthy occlusion. When they do not work together this causes a misaligned bite, known as malocclusion
My mum found some leaflets on teeth grinding/clenching at our dentist and gave them to me to read. I then made an appointment to see Stephen at the dentist and he suggested an NTI splint to me he explained it was small piece of plastic which would cover my bottom 4 teeth. This would then stop my back teeth meeting therefore I would no longer grind/clench. I decided to go for it and within a week of wearing it noticed an improvement.
Some common indicators of a misaligned bite may include;
It is also common for patients with occlusal problems to grind their teeth and most aren’t even aware of it as it’s usually done whilst they are sleeping. If you tend to wake up with tenderness, a painful stiff jaw or pain when biting together – this could be a sign you are clenching or grinding your teeth together at night.
They are able to examine the health and functionality of your whole mouth and make recommendations on how to achieve a healthy bite.
The treatment options recommended will depend on each patient and their individual occlusal problems. Some of the treatment paths may include;
An occlusal assessment is likely to improve the longevity of your teeth and reduce the chances of painful dental problems developing in the future. Speak to us today at the Essex Smile Centre to find out more and book an initial assessment.
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Don’t let your fear of visiting the dentist stop you from receiving the treatments you want and need – we offer extra support for nervous patients.
Monday 9.00am to 6.30pm
Tuesday 8.00am to 8.00pm
Wednesday 8.00am to 6.00pm
Thursday 8.00am to 8.00pm
Friday 8.30am to 5.00pm
Saturday 9.00am to 2.30pm
Sunday Closed
If you are experiencing a dental emergency out of practice hours, please call our telephone number for further instructions, where you can leave a message and we will get back to you.