3 ways to Prevent a Poor Bite

The manner in which the jaw closes and shuts plays an important role in overall dental health. The jawbone is connected to the mandible at two points called ball socket joints near the jaw under the ear. In normal bites, the jawbone aligns with the mandible and moves normally while opening and closing. In abnormal bites, some feature of the biting process has been disrupted.

A poor bite can cause a number of unpleasant and dangerous symptoms, including tooth pain, tooth loss, headaches, gum damage, and erosion of the joints in the jaw. Over long periods of time, if left untreated, a poor bite can cause significant harm to your dental health.
Poor bites are generally classified into two groups: underbite and overbite. An underbite is a case where the bottom teeth extend out further than the upper teeth. An overbite is the opposite.

If you believe you have a poor bite, contact Austin Preventative Dentistry and Austin Cosmetic Dentistry today. Using the latest diagnostic gear, our dentists will diagnose any issues you have while conducting a thorough dental exam in our friendly, high-tech office.

Here are three ways that dental providers can help you prevent a poor bite.

1. Palatal Expansion: A palate expander makes the roof of the mouth larger to create more proportional size in relation to the rest of the mouth. This technique is used in children who are developing bad bite or in danger of developing it. The palate, the medical name for the roof of the mouth, continues to grow throughout childhood. This is what makes this intervention possible for children but not for adults. The palatal expander very slowly grows the roof of the mouth, so slightly that the child does not notice and it doesn’t create any pain or detectable side effects. The most common type of misalignment that palatal expansion fixes is a relatively rare condition called crossbite. This means that the upper jaw is narrower than the lower jaw. The dentists at Austin Dental SPA have significant experience performing palatal expansion.
2. “Herbst” Appliance: The Herbst Appliance is a functional appliance, the term for devices intended to reshape the jawbone to fix poor bite in the category “Class II Malocclusion”. The Herbst Appliance is fastened permanently to the molars to put an upward force on the upper jaw and simultaneously to put forward force on the lower jaw.
3. Space Maintainer: Maintaining space is an important aspect of keeping an optimal bite. Tooth crowding can lead to problems with still-growing teeth. There are different types of space maintainers depending on the severity and nature of the crowding. Some are removable and some are kept in the mouth for the duration of treatment. At Austin Dental SPA, we help many patients with space maintenance.

These are just a few ways that our expert dentists at Austin Preventative Dentistry and Austin Cosmetic Dentistry help our patients keep their bright smile. Proper jaw function is crucial for long-term dental health. If you have any questions about your bite or just want to get your six-month checkup, give our office a call today.