Is Your Bite Uncomfortable? This May Be Why

bite

My bite does not feel comfortable. It almost feels like I have two bites. What can happen if I leave this alone? How can I fix it?

When a bite does not feel right, it is important to find out what is causing it and treat the problem. Things that can cause a bite to change and feel uncomfortable can range from new dental work that is not adjusted properly to a jaw joint that is breaking down. Additional reasons it can feel off is orthodontics not refined when completed, tooth migration due to not wearing retainers and wanting to compensate for a restricted airway.

If this is left alone it can lead to TMJ pain, tooth fracture and loss, bone and gum loss, sensitivity to bite and headaches. It is important that a dentist with the right training in occlusal issues (the disruption of the way the teeth come together and function) evaluate your bite. She or he can do a thorough diagnostic work up of what the problem is and figure out what the least amount of dentistry you would need to fix it.

Treatment to balance the bite can range from a simple tooth reshaping to needing orthodontics and possibly crowns and veneers. The treatment should be for each individual and his or her situation. The sooner you seek treatment, the less costly and painful your condition can become.

About the author

Stacey Sparkman Hall, D.D.S.

Dr. Stacey Hall brings her unique outlook on dental care and her personable optimism to the Williamsburg Center for Dental Health. With nine years of solid dental expertise as a dentist in Williamsburg, she decided in early 2011 to branch out and open her own local practice. After completing her undergraduate degree from Virginia Tech in 1998, Dr. Hall graduated from VCU’s MCV School of Dentistry in 2002, receiving her D.D.S. She is a member of the Academy of General Dentistry, the American Dental Association, and was awarded member fellowship to the International Congress of Oral Implantology in 2008. She leads the elite Tidewater Dawson Study Club and is a scholar with the interntaionally renowned Dawson Academy. As a Dawson ambassador, Dr. Hall also assists in the training of students in the Dawson Academy. Stacey and her husband Michael have been blessed with three beautiful girls, Lanie, Gracie and Abbie. She is a loyal Virginia Tech Football fan, and enjoys Bible study and missions work.