Tooth Be Told

This edition of “Tooth Be Told” discusses teeth alignment and the importance of

occlusion, or a good “bite.” When dentists talk about occlusion, we aren’t speaking

of the common medical term occlusion, as in a blockage of a blood vessel, for example,

but rather the way the upper and lower teeth align or fit together.

When teeth are properly aligned, chewing, speaking, and functioning are in harmony. When there is misalignment, we call that malocclusion. The consequences of malocclusion can lead to

difficulty chewing or speaking, dental problems such as an increased risk of tooth decay

and gum disease due to teeth crowding (straight teeth are clean teeth!), aesthetic

concerns, and jaw problems.

Two classifications of malocclusions are commonly called an overbite (the upper teeth extend beyond the lower teeth) or an underbite (the lower teeth extend beyond the upper teeth).

There are several treatment options that can address misalignment. First, orthodontics.

We think of braces, or clear aligner therapy. Misconceptions about orthodontics

commonly were that aesthetics was the primary reason for treatment; however,

alignment is, by far, the number one driver for therapy. This can be seen as conventional

braces or clear aligners such as Invisalign, which can be a good option for adults

looking for a moderate amount of tooth alignment for teeth crowding.

Second, restorative dentistry, such as crowns, can attempt to fix a bite concern. Thirdly, a

nightguard or bite splint can be made to not only protect your teeth during

sleep if you grind or clench, but it can help distribute the forces more evenly, thereby

reducing pressure on the jaw or particular teeth that might be sore.

I am able to give you many opinions about my approach regarding alignment, but let’s

do that another time. For now, I want to end with this –- there is some truth to teeth

alignment and posture. How can your teeth and your lower back be connected? When

teeth aren’t aligned properly, there is a compensating effect throughout the postural

chain, especially to the muscles located in the neck and back. In other words, your

posture is also related to your oral health. So, to quote from “The Skeleton Dance,”

“The backbone’s connected to the neck bone….”