Our specialists take a holistic approach to patient treatment – working closely together, they combine knowledge and skills from various fields of dentistry!
An occlusion (bite) examination allows us to determine the cause of the patient’s discomfort in the teeth, muscles and temporomandibular joints. This knowledge is crucial in achieving long-term treatment results.
The temporomandibular joints are responsible for the proper functioning and attachment of the mandible to the skull. In the event of improper contact between the teeth of the upper and lower jaws, we refer to this as an occlusal disorder.
Temporomandibular joint disorders affect approximately 80-90% of the population, vary in severity and constitute a serious social problem.
Symptoms of occlusal disease:
- bruxism – teeth grinding,
- teeth grinding,
- teeth clenching,
- enamel cracking,
- cervical lesions,
- facial muscle pain,
- brittleness of teeth and prosthetic restorations (e.g. crowns and bridges),
- headaches of unknown origin, confused with migraine,
- tinnitus,
- tooth hypersensitivity,
- orthodontic treatment failures,
- malfunctioning of the temporomandibular joints:
- cracking in the joints
- mandible jumping during wide opening
- mandible suspension or blockage
- limited ability to open the upper and lower jaws
- excessive pressure on the upper and lower jaw causing pain
- morning fatigue of the facial muscles
- muscle overload leading to headaches and neck muscle pain
- joint pain.
It is very important to start treating the above symptoms in time, otherwise they may spread to the neck, back and lead to painful and chronic inflammation of the temporomandibular joint.
The key to proper, aesthetic and complete dentistry is understanding the function of the masticatory system and understanding occlusion!
The main causes of disorders in the temporomandibular joints and masticatory muscles:
- incorrect occlusal contacts between the upper and lower teeth resulting from dental, prosthetic and orthodontic treatment,
- malocclusion,
- poor posture,
- mechanical injuries to the head, especially the jaw,
- severe, prolonged stress,
- severe psychological trauma.
Treatment of malocclusion
The method of treating malocclusion is always individually tailored to the problem faced by the patient and often requires the cooperation of specialists from various fields of dentistry.
Methods of treating malocclusion:
- Relaxation splint (silicone arch splint) – has a therapeutic effect as it reduces muscle pain by relaxing the muscles. It is particularly recommended for teeth grinding (bruxism).
- Occlusal splint (plastic dental or sublingual cap) – allows for proper alignment of the jaws, preventing clenching of the teeth and tensioning of the masticatory muscles.
- Conservative treatment – changing the shape and size of teeth through proper restoration or replacement of fillings.
- Prosthetic treatment – in the case of missing teeth, the creation of crowns and bridges, often combined with implant treatment.
- Orthodontic treatment – the use of appropriate orthodontic treatment methods in the case of malocclusion.
- Periodontal treatment – gum recession, exposure, sometimes gum atrophy, cervical hypersensitivity and gum pockets can be treated by curettage, gum recession treatment or splinting of teeth.
- Surgical treatment – used in cases of advanced anatomical changes in the joints and long-term pain in the temporomandibular joint that does not respond to treatment.
