Occlusal disease, also known as a traumatic bite or a traumatic occlusion, can underlie many unpleasant ailments. Symptoms of occlusive disease are: headaches, tooth sensitivity, toothache after waking up, facial muscle fatigue or teeth grinding at night. It is worth considering visiting the dentist if you are suffering from these symptoms. Find out about the treatment of occlusive disease.

Occasional diseaseis also known astraumatic occlusionortraumatic bite . In dentistry, an occlusion is defined as the mutual contact of the teeth of the upper and lower arch. This contact is different in the central position and different with the movements of the lower jaw. The correct relationship of the upper and lower teeth is described by occlusion norms. The action of the masticatory muscles and the temporomandibular joint is closely related to the correct occlusion. Disturbances in the function, activity or structure of one of these three elements are reflected in the operation of the other components of this system. Thus, incorrect occlusal contacts will negatively affect the condition and function of the masticatory muscles and the temporomandibular joint. The patient may not feel any discomfort for a long time, because the body will try to compensate for the progressive changes in the occlusion in a natural way. However, if treatment is not started at this early stage, the symptoms of a traumatic bite will become really troublesome. This condition can be called a traumatic occlusion, a traumatic bite or an occlusive disease.

Occasional Disease: Symptoms

Initiallyocclusive disease symptomsare not experienced by the patient. Diagnosis and dental treatment already in the initial stage of the disease helps to prevent later complications and burdensome, long-term treatment.

Symptoms of occlusive disease are:

  • pain in the teeth and muscles of the face - increasing pain symptoms may indicate the advancement of "occlusive disease". Occurring symptoms of occlusion disorders may concern the teeth and the surrounding periodontium, facial muscles and temporomandibular joints. Chewing discomfort is often the first symptom noticed by a patient. It results from periodontal overload of the affected teeth

Many of the pains considered to be migraine are thought to be related to occlusive disease. Moreover, according to some researchers, it is a more common factorcausing tooth loss than tooth decay.

  • tooth wear, enamel chipping, cervical wedge defects - these are just some of the intraoral symptoms of a traumatic bite
  • these symptoms are often accompanied by damage to the prosthetic restorations (crowns, bridges or dentures) present in the oral cavity
  • teeth hypersensitivity to thermal stimuli. The soft tissues surrounding the tooth can also become the site of symptoms of a traumatic bite
  • loosening of teeth
  • lowering the gum line (creating a recession)

Apart from the symptoms occurring inside the oral cavity, the presence of traumatic occlusion may be indicated by complaints from the masticatory muscles and the temporomandibular joint. Patients feel

  • excessive tension sometimes described as numbness of the facial muscles. It occurs especially often in the morning.
  • pain in the masticatory muscles responsible for movements in the temporomandibular joint
  • headaches - they are of a migraine nature. They are related to the excessive tension of the masticatory muscles resulting from the changed position of the mandible in relation to the upper jaw (this is the result of disturbed occlusive balance)

Untreatedocclusive diseasecan lead to changes in the temporomandibular joints. It is accompanied by pain and acoustic phenomena. They are described as jumping or crackling in the temporomandibular joints.

What are the causes of occlusive disease?

There are many causes of occlusive abnormalities. It is the adaptive abilities of our organism that decide whether these abnormalities will be manifested in the form of pain or other unpleasant sensations.

Occlusal defects can be mentioned as one of the causes of abnormal contact between the lower and upper teeth. They may appear as primary or secondary defects. Primary malocclusion is associated with developmental disorders in the craniofacial area.

Secondary defects, on the other hand, result from other diseases, e.g. tooth displacement in advanced periodontitis. The common cause of occlusion disorders is the occurrence of Godon's phenomenon. This phenomenon consists in the movement of the teeth towards the gap after the lost tooth. Displaced teeth may disturb the proper contacts between the upper and lower arch.

Another reason that may disturb optimal occlusal contacts are dental fillings that differ significantly in shape from the natural shape of the tooth. Incorrectly shaped or worn fillings, e.g. too high or too flat, may contribute to the occurrence of disorders during the closing of the teeth. This can lead to occurrence over timesymptomsocclusive disease . A similar situation occurs in the case of improperly made prosthetic restorations. Crowns, bridges or veneers, the shape of which is not properly matched to the remaining teeth, may predispose to traumatic occlusion.

Parafunctions, or habits related to biting pencils, biting nails or teeth grinding, are also factors that interfere with occlusion. Therefore, with their longer occurrence, they can lead to a symptomatic form of occlusive disorders.

Occlusion - treatment of occlusive disease

Traumatic occlusion is a multifactorial disease, there are many situations that predispose to the occurrence of a disease such asocclusion .Treatment of occlusive diseaseis not uniform and requires an individual approach to each patient. Diagnostics and therapy takes place in the dentist's office. After a thorough examination of the patient and performing specialist tests, the doctor determines the cause of the disorders. The next step is to eliminate this cause and then repair the damage caused by it. A team of specialists in various fields of dentistry is often required for this. Thus, the treatment is multidirectional (prosthetic, orthodontic, periodontal or conservative treatment). The therapy includes such procedures as bite correction, replacement of defective fillings and prosthetic restorations. It may be helpful to make relaxation splints or orthodontic treatment.

Destruction of crowns and bridges is a consequence of occlusive disease

Often, occlusive disease causes cracking of crowns or prosthetic bridges. The dentist repeats the placement of the bridge or crown, often several times without effect, and the reason is not correct performance, but the patient's muscles, which destroy the prosthetic work. After treatment, patients feel more comfortable, they can sleep better, they feel that their teeth "fit" together better.

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Dentistry and Orthodontics