Occlusal Wear in Chicago IL

• Parafunctional habits: bruxism (grinding), clenching, or object biting (ice, nails, pens). These can occur for a number of reasons, including:
  • Stress
  • Medications: levodopa, fluoxetine, lithium, citalopram, etc.
  • Habits
• Bite interference due to:
  • Natural tooth position
  • Restorations that are “high” or unpolished porcelain rubbing against natural tooth structure.
  • Shifting tooth position from periodontal disease
• Missing teeth – spaces in your dentition will put more pressure than normal on the remaining teeth. This is most noticeable with your molars and other posterior teeth.
• Diet
  • Nuts, ice
  • Excessive gum chewing
• Systemic/Neurological
  • Sleep apnea
  • Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease
  • Down syndrome
  • Autism
• Developmental dental defects –enamel is thin or weak

Symptoms of Chicago IL Occlusal Wear

• Flattening of chewing surfaces
• Trismus (restricted mouth opening)
• Tenderness in the muscles used for chewing
• Headaches, usually near the temples
• The clicking of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) – where your jaw attaches to the rest of your skull
• The bite doesn’t “feel right”
• Loose teeth

Risks of Attrition

• Teeth: Tooth sensitivity, fracture of teeth, exposure of tooth nerve, poor esthetics, toothaches
• Functional: Decreased chewing efficiency, pain on chewing
• Temporomandibular joint disorders, or chronic headaches

Treatment Options

• Bite equilibration: A procedure done in the office where the dentist reduces the area causing the interference, allowing the teeth to come together more naturally
• Occlusal guard to prevent grinding and clenching
• Restorative procedures: Fillings or crowns to prevent further wear, decrease sensitivity, or improve aesthetics of worn dentition.
• Orthodontic movement to fix issues with a misaligned bite
• For severe cases, the only treatment is a “full mouth rehab” – necessitating crowns for nearly every tooth.