Learning More About Bite Adjustments and How to Know If You Need One
What is a bite adjustment?
A bite adjustment is when the dentist adjusts how the teeth touch each other because sometimes there is a reason, like some teeth biting prematurely more than others, or an uneven bite. Then the dentist will adjust it to make it even.
Why would I need a bite adjustment?
Well, like I said before, if the bite is uneven, then you would bite more on some teeth and almost not bite on the other teeth, or the emphasis is on the wrong teeth, like you're biting more on the teeth that you're not supposed to bite as much. The dentist can adjust it for you so you're biting on the correct teeth.
What is the most common reason for patients to need a bite adjustment after recent dental work, such as a crown or a filling?
Well, usually with a filling, sometimes it's a new tooth filling, so you don't know whether you feel it well enough or not, and as the numbness wears off, then you start feeling it more, and then you would find out that you're not as comfortable as you thought you should be. You would come back and the dentist would adjust it for you so you are comfortable with the filling.
Or even if it's a dental crown, sometimes it's possible that you didn't feel it really well when you left, or you thought, oh, I'll get used to it, and then you got home and you started eating, and you really don't want to get used to stuff like that because it is uncomfortable. You would go to see a dentist, and the dentist will make it more comfortable for you.
What symptoms can a patient experience if their bite is not properly aligned?
Well, of course, number one, it feels like you're biting on marbles or you feel off. You're used to having your bite a certain way, and now you feel that the bite is off.
The other thing could be that you had the wrong bite for a while, and you're starting to feel your jaw giving you pain and so on, and you're thinking something is off. Maybe I should go see a dentist. The dentist checks your bite and determines that, yes, indeed, you actually have been clenching your teeth and destroying some of them. And because they're not able to hold on or withstand you crushing your teeth together, then the dentist would adjust it to alleviate the pain that you get with that.
How is the bite adjustment procedure done by a dentist?
Well, first of all, they're going to check where your bite is. And there are different tools available for that. It could be that they just have you bite on articulating paper that will leave marks where the teeth are biting. It could also be that they do a scan, and the scan will show them where your bite is premature or too heavy. Then they will adjust it and make an equilibration adjustment to it so you can bite on both sides evenly and comfortably.
How do you know if you need a bite adjustment after veneers, braces, or other dental procedures?
Basically, if you feel uncomfortable at the end of treatment and the bite feels off, you would need a bite adjustment. Don't wait until it starts hurting, because if the filling is too big or the crown is too high, and when you close, you only feel that one tooth that was just worked on, and you don't feel any other teeth in contact, chances are you're going to need an adjustment on it.
Can orthodontic treatment like Invisalign fix an open bite, overbite, or crossbite?
And the answer is yes, it can in some cases. It's actually a very good tool for that. It would be used to adjust your bite and close the bite in if it's an open bite. And if it's a crossbite, it can move the teeth from one position to another, where they are in correct occlusion or contact with the rest of the teeth. So yes, it is possible, and it's an absolutely correct way of doing it.
What is the difference between correcting an open bite versus a crossbite?
Crossbite means that if the teeth are supposed to be this way, they are that way. So they cross. When you're wearing Invisalign, it separates your teeth enough that they can be moved into the correct position, and then, when you remove the Invisalign, you'll be contacting your teeth correctly. Basically, they stand on the correct side of the rest of the teeth.
An open bite is basically when you close, and the teeth don't touch. They're supposed to go across each other, but they're not going there. So the Invisalign will bring those teeth closer together. So you don't have an open bite anymore because some people have that when they close their teeth in the back, the front is still open.
Can a bite issue ever be corrected naturally?
For the most part, they're not corrected naturally. It's just that you destroy something that you're not supposed to, and you feel better, and you get used to it. But it can also lead to more advanced problems. For example, if the tooth is too tall, when you bite on it, it can create the fact that you need a root canal because you're abusing that particular tooth.
What advice would you give to patients who have had recent work done and are uncomfortable?
The best advice I can give you is don't wait. Go see your dentist again. It might be a one-minute procedure, and you're done, rather than causing extra issues with your teeth or with your mouth. So my advice: don't wait. Go see your dentist again.
What causes teeth to be misaligned?
If the teeth were never aligned in the first place, then over time, the forces in the mouth can pull them farther and farther out of alignment. If your teeth were aligned when you were a teenager, but after a few years, you notice they’re no longer as straight as they used to be, we call that ortho relapse. This often happens when someone did not wear retainers or did not wear them for as long as they should have.
There are also habits like thumb sucking or tongue thrusting that can create alignment problems and make things worse. In some cases, the arches may be too narrow, so that not all the teeth fit properly within the available bone, leading to crowding. In other cases, there may be spacing issues or flared teeth, where the teeth are angled outward instead of sitting in the proper position. There are different kinds of defects, and the longer they go untreated, the worse they can become.
Are crooked teeth just cosmetic or do they actually affect health?
The truth is that they do affect health. It’s not just cosmetic. Cosmetic improvement is really a bonus. When a smile is healthy, the teeth are aligned correctly, which makes it easier to maintain good oral health. Nice, healthy, pearly white teeth also look attractive, but health comes first.
What are the different types of misalignment?
There are several types, including overbite, underbite, crossbite, crowding, and spacing. Those are some of the most common types of teeth misalignment.
At what age does teeth alignment begin?
Our teeth alignment begins when the teeth are growing. We literally begin growing teeth when we are about 6 months old.
Is it too late for an adult to straighten their teeth?
No, it’s not. It’s never too late. In fact, we have patients all the way up into their 80s who can align their teeth. Alignment often gets worse with age because of the forces in the mouth and the way existing misalignment can progress over time. The older we get, the more misaligned the teeth may become if they were never corrected to begin with.
What is the best option for aligning teeth?
That’s something to decide with your dentist, because the best option depends on your particular case. Braces still have a place, especially if someone may not be very compliant with treatment.
If you are going to be compliant and you want a more predictable treatment, something like Invisalign can be an excellent choice. There are other brands, but Invisalign has the most experience, very effective materials for moving teeth, and a strong track record. In many cases, Invisalign is the best option.
Does teeth alignment hurt?
Yes, it can be uncomfortable. It’s usually not the kind of pain that requires medication, but it does involve slowly moving the teeth, so some discomfort is normal. It does hurt a little, but it’s generally not intolerable.
Can teeth shift back after treatment?
Yes, absolutely, especially if you do not wear your retainers. Teeth often shift somewhere in between where they used to be and where they were after treatment. This is a major reason many adults need orthodontic treatment again—they had treatment before, stopped wearing their retainer, and their teeth relapsed.
How do I choose the right dentist for my particular dental needs?
It depends on what’s important to you. You may want to consider the outcome, the speed of treatment, how quickly you want your teeth aligned, whether you want whitening at the same time, and whether your insurance will help pay for it.
Most importantly, it depends on who will be doing the treatment and whether you feel comfortable with that doctor. If you do, then go ahead and move forward with treatment.
Is teeth alignment covered by insurance?
It depends on your dental insurance. Most of the time, if you’re a teenager up to 19 years of age, insurance may provide more help. You will usually still have some copayment, so it’s not covered at 100%.
After age 19, many insurance plans offer only limited orthodontic benefits. A lot of plans say they pay up to $1,000, but then only cover 50% of that, which means you would actually receive only $500. That usually isn’t enough to cover treatment. Many plans also do not cover alignment at all. Most of the time, a significant portion of the cost is your responsibility.
If you’re ready to schedule an exam or would like to learn more about our services, we’d love to hear from you. Call us at (929) 238-9944 or email [email protected]. We look forward to caring for your smile.