Many people who are under great professional or personal pressure cope with this stress by unconsciously clenching or grinding their teeth. If this grinding takes place over a long period of time, the tooth structure can be damaged: The teeth become worn down. This so-called abrasive dentition can have a negative effect on the entire body, with many sufferers complaining of pain in the back and hip area or in the knees. Your dentist in Berlin, Prof. Dr. Andreas Olze, is an expert in the field of temporomandibular joint treatment (bite lifting) and will accompany you on your way back to a radiantly beautiful smile.

How does an abrasion bite develop?

The most common causes of tooth wear are teeth grinding or clenching, known as bruxism. This affects around a third of the population. However, many of those affected are not consciously aware of this grinding and clenching, as it mainly occurs at night. This behavior is often triggered by stress, which in many cases is of a psycho-emotional nature and is therefore unconsciously reduced. When grinding and clenching teeth, immense forces act on the teeth. Over a longer period of time, not only the enamel is worn down, but also the hard tooth substance. This can go so far that, in extreme cases, there is nothing left of the original tooth crown and the teeth are only a few millimetres long. In addition, the chewing and facial muscles are under constant strain, which become tense and harden over time. In rare cases, abrasion is caused by a genetically determined, congenital misalignment of the teeth.

What are the consequences of the loss of tooth structure?

The loss of the hard tooth substance changes the so-called "chewing pattern": in contrast to ruminants, which grind the chyme horizontally, humans chew vertically. In order for this pattern to be maintained, anterior and canine tooth guidance is required: The anterior and canine teeth are characterized by a certain physiological shape, length and position and thus essentially determine the function of the entire dentition. If the hard tooth substance is lost, the vertical chewing pattern is also lost and a "false bite" develops. This incorrect bite causes the teeth to wear down further over the years.

Effects on the temporomandibular joints and the musculoskeletal system

Due to the incorrect bite, the temporomandibular joints are also incorrectly loaded, which shortens the masticatory muscles and the muscles surrounding the temporomandibular joint: this can lead to feelings of pressure, joint pain and tension in the head, neck and shoulder area. Ultimately, the entire musculoskeletal system can suffer from an incorrect bite: Back, hip and knee problems can be the result.

Treatment options for an incorrect bite

If the dental hard tissue has been severely affected and the bite is extremely lowered, the temporomandibular joints must be trained with special splints before the bite is raised in order to get them used to the new, healthy bite height. This pre-treatment can take up to three months. Once the optimum individual bite height has been determined and the temporomandibular joints have become accustomed to the new position, the permanent dentures can be fitted. This restoration usually consists of crowns, partial crowns, bridges, inlays and onlays and all-ceramic veneers - for perfectly natural aesthetics and long-lasting functionality.

Do you suffer from your worn teeth and also have complaints in your musculoskeletal system for which no explanation can be found? Perhaps you suffer from a misaligned bite, known as CMD (craniomandibular dysfunction). Your dentist in Berlin specializes in the complex therapy of bite alignment and will be happy to advise you. Make an appointment - so that you can smile brightly again and show your teeth to life!