At Alpine Dental Health, we have the expertise to diagnose and treat the three major diseases that affect your teeth, including bite disease. Read on to learn more.
Bite Disease – The Lesser Known But Equally Destructive Dental Problem
Most people are familiar with decay and gum disease, but did you know that bite disease can be just as destructive to your oral health?
Your mouth is a complicated machine, with a variety of parts that should work in harmony. Unfortunately, many people’s teeth, muscles and joints don’t fit together quite right. When this happens, the result is bite disease, also known as occlusal disease.
We’re Specially Trained to Recognize the Signs of Bite Disease
When symptoms do appear, the underlying problem is not always obvious. That’s why we’re proud to offer specialized training to recognize the signs of bite disease and provide appropriate treatment. If you are one of the many people who have some form of bite disease, you can relax knowing you’re in the caring and skillful hands of our dentists.
Bite Disease Can Damage Your Teeth, Muscles and Joints
Some wear and tear on your teeth is normal, especially as you age. But excessive wear, as well as pain and other symptoms, can indicate more serious bite problems. If left untreated, bite disease can cause:
- excessive wear on teeth
- broken or fractured teeth
- joint pain and arthritis
- untreated gum disease to worsen
Today, we’re keeping our teeth longer than ever, thanks to the effective treatment of decay and gum disease. That’s good news, of course. But the longer we keep our teeth, the more vulnerable they become to the damage of bite disease.
Bite Therapy Establishes a Healthy Position for Your Jaw
Prevention really is the best medicine for dental problems, especially when it comes to bite disease. In our experience, many people can benefit from a night guard, also called a bite splint. The bite splint is a thin, acrylic appliance custom-made just for you. Based on your particular needs, your dentist will determine whether you will wear the bite splint on your top or bottom teeth. The vast majority of people will need to wear their bite splint only at night (thus the term night guard). When properly adjusted, the bite splint is very comfortable to wear. In fact, our patients tell us they sleep better with it then they used to sleep without it. Your dentist will design your bite splint to allow your muscles and joints to go to their natural position, where they are most comfortable. At the same time, the bite splint protects your teeth from wear or fracture.
Like physical therapy for your body, finding your ideal bite is a process that often takes time. It can involve multiple visits, during which your dentist will continue to evaluate your bite and adjust your splint accordingly.
If your bite disease has progressed to a more serious form, with severe wear and damage, you may require additional treatment to rebuild your teeth to fit your ideal bite. This treatment may involve reshaping, rebuilding, or moving teeth to accommodate the healthier position for your muscles and joints.
We’re happy to invest this time with you! Your comfort, confidence and health are what matter most. When you entrust your care to Alpine Dental Health, know that you’ll be in the hands of people who always have your best interest at heart.