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The demand for Reconstructive Dental Procedures is on the rise in North America. The presence of impurities in our foods and atmosphere have caused changes in breathing patterns which, in turn, changes the way the face and mouth develop.
Thickening of the walls of the airway in children can lead to mouth breathing and alterations of tongue posture which leads to unbalanced muscular activity and bite collapse. Unbalanced muscle activity and functional interferences in a collapsed bite cause wear rates of the teeth to increase, leading to accelerated aging.
Premature aging of the teeth may begin with a loss of enamel on the biting surfaces and/or erosion of enamel at the gumline. As the aging progresses, the teeth may become chipped, cracked and yellowed. Gum recession is a common sign of this process. Tooth sensitivity may, or may not, develop.
Patients that are victim to this functional breakdown are at higher risk for tooth loss and, thereby, the need for implants or dentures. Degeneration of the jaw joints is also a possibility.
Early intervention is the key to avoiding tooth breakdown. Bite collapse can be identified and treated orthodontically by the age of 8, or even earlier.
In cases that are beyond orthodontic correction, reconstructive dentistry may be the answer. The key to successful reconstruction is the ability to reposition the bite in such a way as to balance muscle function.
Over the years attempts have been made to either manipulate the bite into a balanced position or to use a splint or deprogrammer. These methods have had varying degrees of success and failure. Many of the reconstructed bites failed due to breakdown of the dental work, development of jaw/muscle pathology, or both. Unfortunately, most bite reconstructions today are still done with one of these methods.
For those patients who want to seek out modern technologies, there are hundreds of dentists worldwide who utilize medical computer technology to align and balance the bite. Tooth and jaw position can be tracked by computer while Electromyography (EMG) is used to confirm balanced muscle function. With this technology (by Myotronics-Noromed, Seattle), reconstructions can be performed in the safest and healthiest manner.
Dr. Steven Hill has been a leader in bite reconstruction since 1993. He has been using the Myotronics computer system since 2000. |
