Have you visited the same dentist your entire life? Most people haven’t. Life happens. You take a new job, you decide to make a fresh start and you move. When you do, you find a new daily routine, a new doctor, grocery store and even dentist.
Over the years, dental work done here and there, as needed, can cause changes in the overall fit of teeth. A crown here, an implant there, some fillings over there … it can create a shift in the balance of your bite. When your bite is out of alignment, things can get painful.
Misaligned Bite Can Cause Pain and Even TMJ Disorder
Malocclusion, or a misalignment of the bite, can occur for many reasons. Some of these include:
- Pacifier or thumbsucking as a child
- Extra teeth
- Missing teeth
- Impacted teeth
- Misshapen teeth
- Cleft lip or palate
Not only does a misaligned bite cause pain, but it can also lead to fractured or broken teeth. Sometimes the pain is felt in the teeth, but often it spreads to the jaws and even the head, shoulders and neck. When the bite is not balanced, it can put a strain on the jaw muscles and even lead to TMJ disorder.
Treating a Misaligned Bite
Treatment for a bad bite can vary depending on what is causing the problem. Sometimes restoring old dental work may be all that is needed. In other cases, orthodontics may be necessary, and in extreme situations surgery may be required. The good news is most cases can be treated with simple, less invasive procedures with the main goal of reducing or completely eliminating any pain or discomfort in the teeth or jaws.
If you are living in pain and suspect your bite may be out of alignment, call Dr. Pappas’ office today at (602) 957-9643 to schedule an appointment and start your journey to healing.
