Importance of Proper Bite and Jaw Alignment

By Sheri Salartash, DDS, MAGD, NMD, IBDM, FIAOMT, FAAO, FIAO, FICOI

Dynamic Dental Wellness

. https://dynamicdentalwellness.com/

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Importance of Proper Bite and Jaw Alignment

A healthy bite is not only aesthetically pleasing, but improper bite can lead to oral and overall health problems. When the bottom and upper teeth fit together perfectly, this is considered optimal bite. Improper bite can be caused by things such as nail-biting or teeth grinding, thumb-sucking, or irregular jaw growth. An optimal bite is vital for chewing, digestion and even talking and can even reduce your chances of experiencing TMD (temporomandibular joint disorders) and excessive wear on the teeth.

Diagnosing Alignment Issues

During a dental exam, the dentist is going to look at how the teeth come together and can assess whether there is presence of an over or under bite – which is when the front teeth protrude more forward or back, crossbite – which is when the top teeth bite inside the lower teeth, open bite – which is when the front teeth don’t touch when the mouth is closed and misaligned teeth – which is crooked, crowded or improperly spaced teeth. Proper diagnosis of the bite classification will determine what kind of treatment is recommended.

Solutions

Early intervention is key to preventing extensive and expensive treatments later in life. Thankfully, orthodontics has come a long way and there are options for treating improper bite and alignment at all ages. Traditional braces or clear aligners such as Invisalign, have proven to be very successful in correcting the diagnosed issue as well as maintaining aesthetic. For more severe cases, orthognathic (jaw and facial) surgery may be needed in conjunction with orthodontic treatment to correct any skeletal issues and achieve balance of the jaw and bite. After a comprehensive orthodontic evaluation, a personalized treatment plan will be created to ensure maximum results.

Functionality

With improper bite, normal day to day actions like eating or talking may be uncomfortable. When optimal bite is achieved, there is aesthetic improvement as well as lifestyle improvement. Improved speech can result from proper alignment due to improved spacing and habit formation. Better chewing leads to easier and healthy digestion. Sleep can improve as well due to increased airway space and less wear on the teeth.

Proper bite and alignment can lead to a boost in self confidence as well as a healthier oral-overall function. Contact our office to schedule a consultation to help get you to your smile goals!