During your first visit to your dentist on Commercial Blvd at Excellence in Dentistry, Dr. Nancy Rotroff or Dr. Gerard Wasselle will assess your occlusion. Your dental occlusion refers to how the teeth in your mandible (lower jaw) and your maxilla (upper jaw) come together when you bite down. Each tooth has a specific shape which allows it to meet perfectly with its opposing teeth. This contact determines the functional relationship of teeth. Problems relating to occlusion can significantly impact oral health. Problems with your dental occlusion can affect your speech, your ability to properly masticate (chew), your facial appearance and the development of dental disease, including temporomandibular joint disease (TMJ).
Your Fort Lauderdale dentist encourages you to understand how occlusion plays a significant role in your oral health. Every time you bite or chew, your jaw generates an incredible amount of force. If your teeth are in proper occlusion, this force is spread distributed evenly; however, if your teeth are in malocclusion, this force can cause significant damage to your gums and teeth as well as cause pain in your jaw muscles. Placing too much force on any particular tooth/ teeth could result in damage. Additionally, teeth that misaligned or crooked (also considered malocclusion) are more difficult to clean, often leading to plaque buildup and gum disease or dental decay.
Very few people are blessed with perfectly aligned, straight teeth. While most malocclusion problems are minor and do not require treatment, others require dental treatment. The goal of any occlusal adjustment is to correct the positioning of the teeth in order that the pressure from chewing is distributed evenly and the teeth are easier to clean which decreases risk of periodontal disease and tooth decay. Proper occlusion reduces the risk of breaking a tooth and may reduce symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ). Treatments include:
Dr. Nancy Rotroff and Dr. Gerard Wasselle, the dentists at Excellence in Dentistry, have several treatment options to correct your dental occlusion. Every person is unique and the appropriate treatment will be different for each person. To find out the best remedy for your malocclusion, schedule an appointment with the best dentist in Fort Lauderdale by calling 954-928-1666.
Dr. Nancy Rotroff and Dr. Gerard Wasselle are in network providers for a number of PPO dental insurance policies. Your Fort Lauderdale dentists are Principal Insurance dental providers, Humana dental providers, Argus dental providers, Aetna dental providers, Metlife dental providers, Florida Blue dental providers, and United Concordia dental providers among others. Call our office at 954-928-1666 to learn more.
