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What Is Dental Occlusion And why Is It Important?

What Is Dental Occlusion?

During your first visit to your dentist on Commercial Blvd at Excellence in Dentistry, Dr. Nancy Rotroff or Dr. Gerard Wasselle will assess your occlusion.  Your dental occlusion refers to how the teeth in your mandible (lower jaw) and your maxilla (upper jaw) come together when you bite down.  Each tooth has a specific shape which allows it to meet perfectly with its opposing teeth. This contact determines the functional relationship of teeth.  Problems relating to occlusion can significantly impact oral health.  Problems with your dental occlusion can affect your speech, your ability to properly masticate (chew),  your facial appearance and the development of dental disease, including temporomandibular joint disease (TMJ).  

Why Does Dental Occlusion Matter?

Your Fort Lauderdale dentist encourages you to understand how occlusion plays a significant role in your oral health. Every time you bite or chew, your jaw generates an incredible amount of force. If your teeth are in proper occlusion, this force is spread distributed evenly; however, if your teeth are in malocclusion, this force can cause significant damage to your gums and teeth as well as cause pain in your jaw muscles. Placing too much force on any particular tooth/ teeth could result in damage. Additionally, teeth that misaligned or crooked (also considered malocclusion) are more difficult to clean, often leading to plaque buildup and gum disease or dental decay. 

How Can I Correct My Dental Occlusion?

How Do I Find A Dental Office That Takes My Insurance?

Dr. Nancy Rotroff and Dr. Gerard Wasselle are in network providers for a number of PPO dental insurance policies. Your Fort Lauderdale dentists are Principal Insurance dental providers,  Humana dental providers,  Argus dental providers, Aetna dental providers, Metlife dental providers, Florida Blue dental providers, and United Concordia dental providers among others.  Call our office at 954-928-1666 to learn more.

 

 

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