You and Your Bite

Isn’t it ironic how some of us sleep our recommended eight hours and still wake up in the morning fatigued, tired and with muscle strain? Do you ever feel neck, shoulder or back pain as soon as you sit up from bed? Most of us probably think it’s time for a new mattress; however, the answer to your restless sleep could be something you may not be aware is a problem. These pains could be symptoms of an uneven occlusion (bite) or of improperly aligned teeth. Occlusion problems cause clenching and grinding (bruxism), jaw clicking, headaches, ear aches and sore jaw muscles. Continuous grinding can also lead to a more severe problem, Temporomandibular Joint Disorder. This is a disorder that affects one or both of the joints in the jaw which work together to control chewing, speaking and swallowing. Repeated trauma to the joints will wear down the fibrocartilage, leaving your joint with no choice but to have bone on bone contact. As some of you know, this can be extremely painful and in severe cases surgery is the only treatment that can remedy it. But before reaching this point, there is a preventable tool that may aid in taking care of all these symptoms.

The solution may be splint therapy. A splint is made out of acrylic and provides a temporary perfect bite for the mouth. Splint therapy is implementing this device to correct your occlusion. Once your splint is constructed to your individual bite, there is a series of adjustments the dentist makes to the splint over a period of time until the bite is ideal and the symptoms once present are gone. The final step is to equilibrate the occlusion. In other words, now that the jaw has reached the perfect bite, adjustments will now be made to the teeth to achieve the same occlusion. The goal is to eliminate interferences in order to give that perfect bite once felt with the splint, but without the splint present and therefore, prevent any future problems.

Not addressing the issue can lead to more expensive treatment such as, repairing chipped teeth, replacing broken crowns, erosion and much of the bridgework adults encounter. You may not be aware of the clenching and grinding that goes on at night but your dentist will definitely see the evidence in your mouth. This is why not only regular hygiene visits are essential, but also comprehensive oral exams with the dentist. According to the Pankey Institute, a world renowned center for dental education, “your doctor knows that looking into the future means providing you with all the information about what’s happening today that will impact your teeth five, ten, twenty and more years from now.” This makes it possible for patients to be able to make informed decisions and therefore, have a healthier mouth, more restful sleep and fewer problems in the future.