Occlusal Equilibration – Rowley, MA
Creating the Foundation of a Solid Bite
Teeth that don’t fit together properly can cause more issues than you think. Your lower jaw is attached to the skull with two temporomandibular joints (TMJs) that are located on both sides of your head right in front of your ears. Normally, the lower jaw should freely hinge at these joints, and when you close your mouth the lower teeth should evenly touch the upper teeth at every point along both arches, creating what’s known as a solid bite. However, if the bite is uneven to the point where it affects the TMJs, issues such as jaw pain begin to occur. The jaw might shift in an effort to fully close the teeth, putting stress on the joints and leaving the nearby muscles tender. Bruxism (a condition where you grind and clench your teeth at night) might also occur.
To address these issues, we may offer occlusal equilibration in our Rowley, MA dental office as a solution for your TMJ disorder. Get in touch with our Rowley dental office to schedule an appointment with Dr. St. Clair to have your bite evaluated and your TMJ disorder diagnosed.
Why Choose J. Peter St. Clair, DMD for Occlusal Equilibration?
- Empathetic Dentist and Team
- Down-to-Earth, Authentic Care
- Treatment Plans for Each Unique Bite
How Does Occlusal Equilibration Work?
Before beginning occlusal equilibration, we need to study the bite relationship between your upper and lower jaw. We’ll need to make models of your mouth so that we can see if the issue can be fixed simply by correcting the biting surfaces of the teeth. After that, we can start adjusting the bite relationship. Essentially, we remove small amounts of enamel from specific areas of your mouth so that the teeth come together in the proper areas; in certain cases, we might have to add to the dental structures by applying composite resin. The procedure continues until a harmonious bite is restored, thus bringing your TMJs relief from the harmful pressure they were experiencing.
Why Do I Need Occlusal Equilibration?
Not every TMJ disorder can be treated the same way. Occlusal equilibration is recommended when the joints are unable to fully seat themselves or if the teeth can’t meet together properly. You’ll likely need occlusal equilibration (or another TMJ-related treatment) if you’re suffering from symptoms such as muscle-tension headaches, worn down or loose teeth, chips in your enamel, gum recession, teeth grinding, and grooves forming on exposed root surfaces. These symptoms won’t always occur all at once, so it’s important to pay attention to the current state of your mouth and notice any changes that could point to a TMJ disorder.
