If your teeth don’t fit together properly, you can have problems not only in your teeth themselves, but also the gums, the temporomandibular joint or the muscles that move your jaw. These problems are called ‘occlusal’ problems.

• Teeth
  Teeth that are out of line, heavily worn or constantly breaking, fillings that fracture or crowns that work loose may all be signs of occlusal problems. Your teeth may also be tender to bite on or may ache constantly.
  
  
  
• Gums
  Receding gums and the risk of Gum Disease can be made worse by an incorrect bite.
  
  
  
• TMD
  Clicking, grinding or pain in your jaw joints, ringing or buzzing in your ears and difficulty in opening or closing your mouth could all be due to your teeth not meeting each other properly.
  
  
• Muscles
  If your jaw is in the wrong position, the muscles that move the jaw have to work a lot harder and can get tired. This leads to muscle spasm. The main symptoms are continual headaches or migraine, especially first thing in the morning; pain behind your eyes; sinus pain and pains in your neck and shoulders. Sometimes even back muscles are involved.

Benefit of Alignment
Teeth can last a lifetime if they are properly aligned and cared for. However, if the teeth are misaligned when the mouth is closed, rubbing or bumping against each other, tension builds up in the jaw joint. The muscles get strained and this stress spreads over time to the ligaments that connect the muscles to the bones, and even to the bones themselves. There are three large nerves running through the temple and facial areas. If inflammation sets in and these nerves are affected, severe pain can be the result.

For more information on Dental Occlusion and Jaw Alignment or to request a consultation with Dr. Dean, please call:
London practice: 020 7580 2644 or Forest Row practice: 01342 824580. You can also click here to email us online.

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