While tooth decay and gum disease are two conditions that can often be prevented with proper oral hygiene, one dental issue that the average person tends to have less control over is the misalignment of his teeth and bite. Though certain habits can cause teeth to shift, most of the time misaligned teeth are the result of injury or simple cases of unfavorable genetics. Of course, misaligned teeth can often cause increased self-consciousness and low self-esteem. However, a misaligned bite won’t just rob you of that otherwise perfect smile.
A misaligned bite can cause a number of aggravating physical issues. For starters, it can interfere with proper chewing techniques and result in undue strain on certain teeth. It can also make the notion of maintaining proper oral hygiene more challenging, thereby increasing one’s likelihood of developing cavities and gum disease. Finally, a misaligned bite can cause significant jaw pain and might even result in the fracture of some teeth over time. For these reasons, it’s important to visit the dentist if your misaligned teeth are causing you to suffer.
Fortunately, a new tool is on the market designed to help diagnose problems with misaligned teeth and develop treatment procedures accordingly. Dr. Stuart Levy is a Medford, New Jersey dentist who happens to be a big fan of dental technology. And thanks to a device called the Tek Scan, Dr. Levy is now better able to identify and address bite issues than ever before. The Tek Scan works by having the patient bite down on a special sensor attached to a computer. The device then generates a computerized analysis of the patient’s bite that precisely pinpoints any applicable problems, all in a matter of minutes.
According to Dr. Levy, this device is far superior to the bite analysis methods of old. Most dentists tend to use articulating paper (you know, that stuff that dentists give you to bite down on after dental work) to measure and examine a patient’s bite. The problem with articulating paper is that it isn’t always accurate. While its job is to mark the points of contact made by a patient’s teeth to measure the evenness of the bite, it doesn’t actually indicate whether or not the teeth are aligned in a manner that best distributes the forces of a person’s bite on all of the teeth. Ideally, a patient should be able to distribute the force of his bite across the whole arch of the mouth (as opposed to having only a few teeth bear the force of his bite), and articulating paper cannot always indicate whether or not a person is actually doing so. The Tek Scan, on the other hand, measures each patient’s bite for forced distribution in time. Since the goal in bite correction is to distribute the force of the bite over the maximum number of teeth in the shortest amount of time, the Tek Scan can measure the extent to which a patient is or is not achieving this objective.
Remember, a patient’s bite should be such that his jaw and teeth are working harmoniously; if a person’s bite is off, then it can put a huge strain on his jaw muscles and cause a tremendous amount of pain. The more accurately a dentist can measure the bite, the better equipped he’ll be to provide treatment for the problem at hand. In some cases, Dr. Levy is able to use the Tek Scan to immediately diagnose and treat bite issues on the spot. The great thing about bite adjustments is that even the most minor correction can make a difference. By minimally shaving down teeth and modifying tooth contour in moderation, Dr. Levy can instantly reduce a patient’s discomfort by knowing precisely how to tackle the problem, all of which is possible thanks to the accuracy of the Tek Scan.
Of course, not every patient is eligible for such on-the-spot treatment. Some bite-related problems are more complicated than others, and in certain cases, patients will need braces or restorative dental work in order to truly fix the bite issues at hand. However, the Tek Scan can still help these patients by providing a precise analysis of the bite and pinpointing those areas in need of correction.
If you’ve been suffering from tooth or jaw pain for far too long, then there’s a good chance that your bite might be to blame. The best way to combat this problem is to see a dentist who uses the Tek Scan and who is well-versed in a variety of successful treatment options. And considering the fact that a dentist might be able to resolve your bite-related issue on the spot, you’ll be doing yourself a favor by making that appointment as soon as possible.
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.
