The importance of bite relation (occlusal analysis) cannot be over-emphasized in the dental practice setting. The placement of fillings, crowns, bridges, bite splints, implants, veneers, onlays, inlays, dentures; just about anything we do in dental medicine demands a proper spatial relationship between the temporomandibular joints (TMJ’s) and the oral cavity, not to mention a proper relationship between the maxilla and the mandible.
Ignorance to the occlusion, or bite, can create havoc for the patient, creating problems ranging from sensitive teeth, to root canal therapy, to temporomandibular disorder (TMD or “TMJ” as it’s known widely), and even certain types of chronic headaches. Traditionally, a colored ribbon of paper known as articulating paper is used by the dentist to check the bite. The use of this thin paper is problematic though, as it only qualifies where the bite is “high”, doing nothing to quantify/show how much or how hard.
Learn more about our leading-edge treatment for TMD by calling our Rogers dental office at (479) 876-8000.