Bite Adjustment
(Occlusal Adjustment)
What is a bite adjustment (occlusal adjustment)?
A bite adjustment, also called occlusal adjustment, modifies how your teeth come together when you bite and chew. This can range from small adjustments on individual teeth to full-mouth adjustments to treat discomfort in the jaw, face and neck.
Who needs occlusal adjustment?
Every tooth that is restored will have the occlusion checked to ensure a proper fit with the adjacent tooth. If a few days after your treatment that tooth feels painful or too high, you might need to have it adjusted further.
Patients experiencing pain in their teeth while chewing or pain in their jaw, face or neck, including TMD (Temporomandibular Disorders) and jaw “clicking and popping” may benefit from occlusal adjustment.
Minimally invasive occlusal adjustment
At Alleman Dental, we start all occlusal adjustments with a minimally invasive approach to conserve tooth structure and return your teeth and jaw to natural function. While many patients may benefit from more extensive prosthodontic and/or orthodontic work, if adjustments can be made in a less invasive way, we offer patients the option to try that first.
Post-restoration adjustments: The final step for every restoration at Alleman Dental is a bite adjustment. For most patients, our technique for mimicking natural occlusion can be done at the end of their treatment. In cases where anesthesia makes finding natural occlusion difficult and the restoration feels high or painful after the anesthesia wears off, patients can schedule a follow-up appointment to adjust the occlusion in about 15 minutes without numbing.
Adjustment to relieve symptoms: Wear overtime can bring your teeth out of natural occlusion by removing structure from the tops of the teeth. We start by diagnosing the cause of wear, then restoring the teeth to natural occlusion with biomimetic bonding protocols.
Dahl appliance: For patients who require greater adjustment in the position of their jaw, we use a Dahl appliance, non-invasive bite adjustment that allows you to try out your new bite over time before having your teeth restored to the new position. Composite is added to your back teeth to bring your jaw in the the new position, so none of your natural tooth structure is removed and the appliance is entirely removable.