Occlusion

What is Occlusion? (Why Your "Bite" is the Secret to a Healthy Smile)

You’ve probably never heard the word occlusion, but you experience it every time you close your teeth together. Simply put, occlusion is the dental term for your bite—how your upper and lower teeth contact and interact with each other.

But it’s much more than just a simple fit. Think of your bite like the wheel alignment on a high-performance car. When the alignment is perfect, the car drives smoothly, and the tires wear evenly. When it’s off, you get vibrations, pulling to one side, and rapid, uneven tire wear.

Your occlusion works the same way. A healthy, balanced bite distributes forces evenly across all your teeth, allowing your jaw muscles and joints to function in harmony. An unbalanced bite creates stress points, leading to a cascade of problems that can affect your entire mouth.

The Telltale Signs of a "Bad Bite" (Malocclusion)

An unbalanced occlusion is the hidden culprit behind many common dental complaints. We see it every day. You may have a problem with your bite if you experience:

• Teeth that chip, crack, or break for no apparent reason.
• Dental work that repeatedly fails, like crowns that come loose or fillings that fracture.
• Chronic headaches, especially in the temples, or neck and shoulder pain.
• Jaw muscle soreness and fatigue, particularly in the morning.
• A "clicking" or "popping" sound in your jaw joint (TMJ).
• Teeth that look flat, short, or worn down from excessive grinding.

Why We Are Obsessed with Getting Your Bite Right

Any dentist can place a filling or a crown. But a truly exceptional, long-lasting result depends on ensuring that restoration works in perfect harmony with your overall occlusion. This is a cornerstone of our practice philosophy.

When we do any work in your mouth, we are meticulously analyzing your bite. You know that thin, colored paper we have you bite down on? We're not just checking if a new crown feels "high." We are studying the precise location, timing, and intensity of every contact point to ensure the forces are perfectly balanced. We are ensuring your new dental work doesn't just fit the one tooth—it fits your entire system.

A single filling that is just a fraction of a millimeter too high can throw your entire bite off, triggering muscle pain and putting other teeth at risk. That's why we don’t stop until it's perfect.

Here's what we want you to remember:

Your occlusion, or "bite," is the invisible foundation of your entire dental system. It's not just about how you chew; it's about the long-term health of your teeth, muscles, and jaw joints. Getting it right is the difference between dental work that lasts and problems that keep coming back.

Every patient's situation is unique.

Your bite is like a fingerprint—no two are the same. Analyzing and managing it requires a deep understanding of dental mechanics. That's why we don't just look at one tooth; we look at the whole picture to ensure any treatment we provide works in harmony with your specific bite.

Have questions about your bite?

Or do you suffer from symptoms like jaw pain, headaches, or constantly breaking teeth and don't know why? We're here to give you honest, personalized answers. Schedule a consultation at our Woodland Hills practice – let's talk about what's really best for your smile.