Dental Occlusion Problems

What are occlusion issues and what can our Chelmsford dentist do to help?

First of all, we would like to take this opportunity to wish all patients of Blue Sky Dental a happy New Year and we hope that you all enjoyed your festive break.

Hopefully, you managed to avoid any oral health issues but if you do have any problems that you would like to see a dentist about, we are now fully open again and you can contact us for an appointment.

In today’s blog, we are going to take a look at an issue that dentists often refer to as ‘occlusal’. This is a relatively common problem that comes in different forms, but is one that can also be corrected with appropriate treatment.

What is an occlusal issue?

Essentially, this refers to your bite and more specifically to the way that the upper and lower teeth meet when we are eating or chewing our food, or even when they are at rest. As our teeth are in motion when we use them, you may not think that this matters, but occlusal issues can cause significant problems for your teeth.

Two of the most common occlusal issues are the overbite and the underbite. When an overbite is present this means that the upper front teeth overlap the lower teeth due to the upper jaw being more prominent. An underbite is simply the opposite, with the lower teeth overlapping the top. Other issues include a crossbite, overjet and an open bite. Whilst these problems are far from uncommon, they can lead to a number of oral health issues. Thankfully, treatments available at our Chelmsford dentists clinic can help you to overcome these, but more about that shortly.

Problems caused

If you have a bite problem, there are a number of symptoms that you might notice. If you do notice any of these, you should contact us as soon as possible so that we can look at treating the issue before too much damage has been caused.

Headaches and jaw pain

One reason that teeth don’t always meet correctly is that they have become worn down. This can often occur when we grind our teeth during sleep. Another effect of this is that it can result in headaches, jaw pain and even, potentially, migraines. If you have headaches that don’t have an obvious cause, it is advisable to allow your dentist to check for possible signs that you suffer from this condition, also known as ‘bruxism’ and we can discuss with you ways to address this issue.

Damaged teeth

Where teeth don’t meet as they should, this often means that a part of a tooth that is designed for chewing and grinding, meets the part of another tooth that isn’t. This latter part is often not as strong and can wear away or even break, perhaps in the form of chips or cracks. Eventually, this weakening of the tooth could result in significant damage such as a broken tooth. If you notice that some of your teeth are chipped, you should ask your dentist about this.

Enamel erosion and sensitive teeth

Even where significant and obvious damage isn’t done to your teeth, there can be a gradual erosion of the tooth enamel. Eventually, this will lead to exposure of the dentin layer beneath it which is porous and more sensitive. The result of this is likely to be that your teeth become very sensitive, sometimes painfully so, to both extremes of hot and cold food and drinks.

Treatment

Everyone’s occlusal problems will be different and it is therefore important that you consult your dentist for their advice. In some situations, orthodontic treatment may be required. Patients need not be concerned that this will mean the need to wear unsightly dental braces for long periods of time though. Modern orthodontic systems often use invisible aligners which are both significantly more discreet and, in some cases, can be removed when eating meals and cleaning your teeth. Correcting these issues, where possible, should result in a better bite and healthier, straighter teeth.

Healthy teeth should be a priority as they can affect your general health too. Even the appearance of your teeth can have a significant impact on your life. Unhealthy and unattractive teeth can harm your self esteem so it makes sense to take good care of them. With the New Year underway, now is a good time to make sure that you are on track with good oral health care. This includes making sure that you have routine appointments booked with the dentist and hygienist.

If you would like to make an appointment to see one of the team members at Blue Sky Dental here in Chelmsford, please call us today to arrange an appointment on 01245 211070.