Misaligned Teeth - Malocclusion

Bites - the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Sixteen years ago, I met a new patient, Rosemary. Rosemary was referred to me to evaluate one of her teeth that had become very uncomfortable after her first dentist had cemented a crown or cap onto it. She was afraid that she would need root canal treatment. After a brief examination, Rosemary and I figured out that she was biting too heavily on the new crown. Upon making the crown a tiny bit shorter, the pain was completely relieved. I have not seen Rosemary in a long time, but the record shows that that tooth remained fine for at least several years after our last appointment.

Uneven biting or misaligned teeth cause many problems. Dentists call this malocclusion. Occlusion is the way teeth come together. Malocclusion means that the teeth come together badly. Dental treatment, growth, habits and accidents are all causes of uneven bites. All types of malocclusion are treatable.

Most dental treatment that involves changing teeth in some way such as tooth replacement, filling cavities, and crowning teeth may change the way a patient bites. Sometimes dentists change a patient's bite on purpose. When dentists replace old worn dentures, the new dentures are usually thicker. Patience is necessary to become used to the feel of the new dentures and the new bite. If the dentures are too thick, some of the muscles of the face and temples may become sore. The patient may complain of a muscle tension headache. Given time, and ibuprofen, the muscles may stretch and the headaches will stop. If the pain does not stop in a reasonable amount of time, the dentist can thin the denture.