What is a Dental Occlusion?

Dental occlusion is the manner in which the top and bottom teeth come into contact with one another, whether at rest or while chewing. That is, whether you're resting or chewing, dental occlusion has to do with how your teeth touch and whether or not they are in a healthy alignment with one another.

Static Occlusion

• Static occlusion refers to the relationship between the bottom and top teeth when the jaw is still and stationary. Static occlusion is observed and measured when the mouth is at rest.

Centric Occlusion

• Centric occlusion is the way the teeth fit together when the jaw is closed; it's the way the teeth align during normal and comfortable biting. Centric occlusion in which all the teeth are correctly aligned is desired, with no overbite, cross-bite or underbite.

Malocclussion

• Malocclusion is characterized by teeth that are misaligned and do not fit together properly. This can result in an over bite, underbite or an incorrect bite, which can cause numerous health problems that extend beyond the dental realm.

Malocclusion-Related Problems

• Malocclusion can cause problems involving the teeth and gums. Fillings and crowns can break or wear out quicker than normal, or teeth are generally sore and gums recede. Temporomandibular joint or TMJ problems can also result, causing clicking, grinding and pain in the jaw joint. Some people experience buzzing in the ear. When undue strain is placed on the jaw muscles, people with malocclusion can experience fatigue in their muscles. This can translate into headaches, sinus problems, neck and shoulder pain and muscle spasms.

Occlusal Trauma

• When poor dental occlusion or malocclusion is experienced, occlusal trauma can result. This trauma is made apparent in several ways including pain, the movement of teeth including crowding, the feeling that the teeth are always mobile and the wearing down of the facets of the teeth on inappropriate areas.