When people think of occlusion, or bite balance, they often think of crooked teeth. After all, malocclusion frequently describes teeth that have grown out of proper alignment to varying degrees. However, your bite’s balance relies on more than just your tooth alignment, and bite equilibration is often the most effective way of ensuring that this balance remains equal on all sides of your bite. Because everyone’s bite is different, the process of restoring the harmony to yours may require a variety of treatment options that differ from everyone else’s.
What Bite Equilibrium Means
When your bite opens and closes, it hinges on two large joints known as temporomandibular joints (or TMJs). Both TMJs are identical, and for your lower jaw to move smoothly, it must be equal on both sides for the joints to move simultaneously. Tooth misalignment is one of the most common disruptions to this balance. However, patients might offer suffer from bite imbalances due to worn tooth surfaces, chipped tooth edges, a dysfunction in one or both jaw joints, and more.
How Your Dentist Can Correct It
Bite equilibration is a personalized treatment plan that involves carefully assessing your bite’s imbalance and custom-designing one or more conservative treatments to correct it. For optimal results, your dentist will utilize 3D Tekscan pressure mapping technology to gauge exactly where your bite’s pressure needs to be corrected, and to what degree. Depending on your Tekscan results, your dentist can recommend the most appropriate options for reestablishing your bite’s equilibrium.
Learn if Equilibration Can Improve Your Bite
To function properly, your bite needs to be balanced equally on all sides. With bite equilibration, we can conservatively correct the issues that prevent this. To learn more, schedule an appointment by calling Lathrop Dental Center in Katy, TX at 832-437-3849. We proudly welcome patients and families from Katy, Fulshear, Weston Lakes, Simonton, Richmond, Rosenberg, Brookshire, Wallis, Orchard, Cypress, Sealy, Columbus, and all surrounding communities.
