Posts tagged Occlusion
Toothaches and Biomechanics

I spend lots of time trying to relieve patients from painful teeth. Of course, there are numerous causes of tooth pain, but today, I want to focus on a prevalent and typically easy-to-treat one that has to do with the forces we place on our teeth called hyperocclusion. Hyperocclusion is when we generate forces that exceed the ability of our teeth and supporting structures. As I always say, teeth should glide together, not collide together. This post will discuss how it happens and what your dentist can do about it.

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Diet, Functional Medicine, Oral Health, Pain ReliefScott Solomons, DDSHyperocclusion, Toothache, tooth wear, Tooth Grinding, Tooth Decay, Biomechanics, Occlusion, Masticatory System, Hypo-occlusion, Periodontium, periodontal ligament, Cementum, Gingiva, Alveolar Bone, Open Bite, Modern Diet, Jaw, Jaw Size, Malocclusion, Proprioception, Traumatic Occlusion, Drifting Teeth, Orthodontics, Dental Work, Dental Arch, Dental PainComment
The Class IV Malocclusion

I had written about how teeth are supposed to fit together on February 10th, 2020. The three classifications dentists use are classes I, II, and III. My colleague Dr. Kevin Boyd has proposed adding a class IV classification. Most orthodontic cases today should be classified in this new way. Because it involves both the upper and lower jaws being too small, breathing is often compromised in patients with it. With poor breathing, especially at night, comes a host of other physical ailments. Read on to find out how your dentist can recognize and treat this condition.

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Scott Solomons, DDSClass I Occlusion, Occlusion, Malocclusion, Class II Maloclussion, Class III Malocclucion, Class IV Malocclusion, Orthodontics, Orthodontic Expansion, Orthognathic Surgery, Maxillomandibular Advancement Surgery, MMA, Under Bite, Dental Arch, Arch Width, Intermolar Distance, Craniofacial Respiratory Complex, Airway Dentistry, Airway, Cephalometric X-ray, Kevin Boyd, Myofunctional Therapy, Myofunctional Trainer, American Academy of Physiological Medicine and Dentistry, AAPMDComment
The Types of Teeth We Have and Their Functions

I had the idea for a post about the different kinds of teeth we have a few weeks ago and thought it might be too simple. But then I had a patient that was asking me about the different kinds of teeth and their functions in chewing, so I am going forward with the post. Maybe this is not a very exciting topic, but knowledge of the functions of the different kinds of teeth we have could help patients who are experiencing problems because they are not correctly using them.

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Oral HealthScott Solomons, DDSTeeth, Incisor, Central Incisor, Lateral Incisor, Canine, Cuspid, Bicuspid, Premolar, Eyetooth, Molar, Wisdom Tooth, Wisdom Teeth, Dental Arch, Dentition, Occlusion, Mastication, ChewingComment
Dentistry and Longevity: Having fewer Teeth Is Linked To Shorter Lives

After 31 years of practice, I have seen a correlation between my patients with higher numbers of missing teeth and their failing health. Research largely bears my observations out. Today I am going to discuss five papers that give a little more clarity to the subject of dental health as it relates to overall health and mortality.

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Scott Solomons, DDSLongevity, Occlusion, Missing Teeth, cardiovascular disease, Stroke, Plaque, Calculus, Flossing, Brushing, Dental CheckupComment
How Dentists Assess the Need for Adult Orthodontics

Orthodontic treatment is a great option to get that perfect smile you always wanted. To many of us, the need for orthodontics is obvious when the teeth are crowded and misaligned. Sometimes, the teeth can appear straight, but other more subtle problems may be going on. There are many reasons why moving the teeth may be a good option. Today, I will discuss some of the things dentists look at to determine whether orthodontic tooth movement is an option, and the risk factors involved if treatment is delayed.

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Scott Solomons, DDSOrthodontics, Crooked Teeth, Malocclusion, Airway, OcclusionComment