Occlusal Adjustment Procedure in San Ramon, CA

Bite Adjustment

Your bite is very important in the health of your teeth and oral cavity. If your bite is healthy, then your teeth and muscles work well together and neither is in pain. If your teeth do not meet well together, you will see damage to not only your teeth in the form of worn down teeth, but perhaps your TMJ as well. An occlusal adjustment or bite adjustment might be necessary.


It definitely sounds more significant than it is, however, the potential symptoms that commonly precede an occlusal adjustment or bite adjustment procedure can be uncomfortable. From popping and clicking noises when opening and closing the jaw, to uneven wear on the enamel, more likely than not, you’ll be able to recognize when your bite isn’t aligned.

Side Effects of a Malocclusion

If left untreated, the misalignment may result in you unconsciously clenching, grinding or gnashing your teeth while awake and during sleep. This is known as bruxism and can lead to headaches, neck aches, jaw pain and even cracked or worn teeth.


To prevent these uncomfortable symptoms, it is important to see Dr. Kaeley at Progressive Periodontists & Implant in San Ramon at the earliest signs that something isn’t quite right with your bite. At each visit Dr. Kaely will check for any misalignments that might require adjusting. When Dr. Kaeley asks you to bite down and smile, among other things, she is looking to make sure the bottom and top teeth rest comfortably and evenly on each other.


Simply put, a bite adjustment corrects the alignment of your bite and evenly distributes it to eliminate irregular pressure on one side of the mouth. Sometimes tooth sensitivity may be corrected through an occlusal adjustment as the treatment reduces pressures on sensitive teeth.

What to Expect From an Occlusal Adjustment Procedure

Occlusal adjustment or bite adjustment may be performed in one appointment or over several appointments. If Dr. Kaeley anticipates that significant changes in the bite will be required, she will first take impressions of your teeth in order to produce stone casts, or models.


The actual adjustment of your teeth will involve several steps and is not uncomfortable in any way. Dr. Kaeley will ask you where you feel uncomfortable contacts and then may help guide your teeth to bite down on paper that marks the teeth where there are interfering contacts and will then begin to adjust your occlusion by lightly grinding the occlusal surfaces of your teeth where there are interferences to your bite. This will be done in small increments, to avoid over-grinding. A follow-up appointment will be booked, in order to check your occlusion again and, if necessary, make additional adjustments.


Once we have identified the irregularities, we eliminate the interference by smoothing the tooth or teeth until the bite is realigned, often resulting in improved patient comfort. However, to prevent any future wear on the teeth, we may recommend a bit guard for sleep.


If you’re noticing any irregularities when you bite down or general discomfort, please
make an appointment today.

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