Bite elevation
Solution for relaxed chewing and less discomfort
If worn teeth affect the temporomandibular joints, a customized bite lift can restore the natural function of your masticatory system - for a better quality of life.
Find out everything you need to know about the benefits of a bite lift.
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
Before the actual bite adjustment, splint therapy is first carried out. This allows the optimal bite height to be determined and the jaw to get used to the new position. In some cases, for example, if it is not yet certain whether all teeth are worth preserving or if existing dentures rule out other therapies, long-term temporary restorations are used. This complex process takes up to three months.
If the teeth that will later form the pillars for the restoration solution are not positioned correctly, this problem must first be corrected. This can be done with invisible aligners from Invisalign, which are used to gradually move the teeth into the correct position to ensure optimal restoration.
Once the initial situation in the jaw is correct, the optimal bite height has been found, and the jaw has become accustomed to it, Prof. Dr. Olze inserts the permanent prosthetic restoration.
Do you suffer from worn teeth and also have complaints in your musculoskeletal system for which no explanation can be found?
