Occlusal disease is caused by a misalignment or incorrect relation between the teeth of the upper and lower dental arches, also called malocclusion. If left untreated, occlusal disease can damage your teeth, the supporting bones and gums around your teeth, temporomandibular joints, and the jaw muscles you use for chewing.
Many people dismiss excessive or abnormally accelerated tooth wear as “natural aging or wearing” of teeth, but your dentist can provide treatment to alleviate the pain and discomfort caused by occlusal disease. If you’re suffering from occlusal disease, the time to seek help is now. Call Wambaugh Dental today at 281.501.7849 to learn more about the condition and its treatment options.
What Are the Signs of Occlusal Disease?
The signs of occlusal disease aren’t difficult to notice. They may include:
- Enamel wear
- Tooth cracking or breakage
- Tooth sensitivity
- Gum recession
- Loss of bone support
- Muscle pain
- TMJ symptoms
Our goal is to preserve the oral health of our patients, as well as to anticipate the long-term results when restorative treatment is provided. Treating occlusal disease can lead to a long life of optimal oral health and restorative treatment success.
What Happens If I Don’t Seek Treatment For Occlusal Disease?
If your dentist doesn’t address your occlusal disease, over time, the problems may slowly get worse. You may wear your teeth out, causing you to lose them. Alternatively, the problems surrounding your muscles and jaw will continue to make you uncomfortable. Furthermore, the cost and complexity of the eventual treatment will increase. As a result, it’s nearly always best to seek treatment as soon as your dentist identifies the problem.
What Does Treatment Involve?
If your dentist identifies the occlusal disease early during one of your bi-annual preventative dental appointments, you can avoid the progression of the condition. As a result, your treatment will be much more straightforward. However, if you delay seeking treatment, the damage will come more severe. Additionally, treatment options will be more costly.
When you seek treatment for your occlusal disease, it may involve a range of factors, including:
- Reshaping your teeth, which stabilizes your bite
- Restoring your worn-out teeth
- Orthodontic treatments, such as braces, will align your teeth correctly
- A combination of one or more treatments listed above
While some of these treatments may not be necessary when you seek early intervention, if severe damage has already taken place, you may require more treatment. This long-term treatment depends on working on developing a comfortable, stable bite. Then, the jaws, teeth, and muscles will work together in harmony.
How Can I Prevent Occlusal Disease?
If you want to prevent occlusal disease, you should begin by attending your dentist appointments to get a thorough diagnosis during your exam. Unfortunately, many dental exams do not offer this comprehensive service. Fortunately, at Wambaugh Dental, we’re proud to offer our patients the support and care they need to address any dental problems they have. If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms of occlusal disease, please talk to our team today.
Contact Wambaugh Dental
No one deserves to experience the pain and discomfort that go along with the occlusal disease. As a result, we have provided our patients with the treatment and care that they need to overcome this uncomfortable condition.
In addition to treating occlusal disease, we also provide a vast array of additional treatment options to ensure that our patients have the best oral health possible. Our treatment options include:
- Preventative dentistry treatments
- Pediatric dentistry services
- Teeth whitening services
- Endodontic services
- Dental implants
Don’t let occlusal disease go untreated. Reach out to Wambaugh Dental today at 281.501.7849, or contact us online to learn more about how we can address this condition and many others.