Non-surgical bite correction is a term that refers to a spectrum of treatment options. These treatments allow a dentist to correct a misaligned bite without resorting to surgery. A patient with a bite that is not even—called a malocclusion—does not have to live with it. This can be corrected. And, surgery is not always needed. There are non-surgical techniques. With today’s non-surgical bite correction technique, patients have many options for correcting the problem. All without needing to submit to invasive and sometimes painful surgery. Dr. Levy will be happy to sit down and discuss non-surgical bite correction.

Reasons You May Need Non-surgical Bite Correction

The jaw and neck are actually complicated joints. These joints involve a number of muscles, tendons, and ligaments to operate properly. If there is a malocclusion, the patient will frequently be biting down unevenly. This leads to a host of issues.

Some of the indications that someone may be a candidate for non-surgical bite correction include:

• Repeated and lasting pain in the head, neck, or face
• Clenching of the jaw and/or grinding of the teeth, especially when sleeping
• Chronic tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
• Broken, fractured, or excessively worn teeth
• Temporomandibular joint disorder (“TMJ”) – clicking or popping sound or sensation when opening the mouth
• Other issues your dentist may identify

These and other problems are frequently an indication that the jaw or neck joints may not be completely aligned or working properly. This can often be due to a malocclusion. Fortunately, a malocclusion may be corrected with non-surgical bite correction. This treatment can be faster, cheaper, and less traumatic. Treatment is often easier than expected.

Treatment for Non-surgical Bite Correction

While there are many options for non-surgical bite correction. Speak with Dr. Levy before deciding which one is best. Here are some of the more common treatments. We have provided a brief explanation of how they work.

Nighttime mouth guards

It is possible for Dr. Levy to take an impression of the teeth and fashion a customized mouth guard in the dental laboratory. This has the effect of reducing bruxism. At the same time it provides a way to slowly adjust the alignment of the teeth. While sleeping, the mouth guard can slowly realign the teeth. This corrects a bad bite and all the problems that can go with it.

Tooth reshaping

Sometimes, teeth are perfectly aligned but the biting surfaces don’t exactly match up. This form of non-surgical bite correction is usually a fairly simple fix. It can often be accomplished in only one or two visits. Dr. Levy may have a patient bite down on a special piece of paper. This paper will show where the teeth are matching up. And, it shows where teeth are not. Dr. Levy can then use a dental tool to slightly reshape the surface of the teeth, causing teeth to come down more evenly. This means that the pressure on the tooth surface will be distributed evenly across all the teeth.

Orthodontic non-surgical bite correction

A malocclusion may be caused by teeth that are improperly aligned. Sometimes, other forms of non-surgical bite correction won’t address the matter. The use of orthodontic devices such as braces, retainers, or other appliances may be appropriate. Dr. Levy can fit patients with the proper orthodontic appliances. Using this method, he can slowly move teeth into the correct position. As with tooth reshaping, this form of non-surgical bite correction will eventually cause the teeth to line up perfectly. And, when a patient bites down, it will allow the biting force to be equally distributed across all areas of the bite.

Replacement and/or reconstruction of your misaligned teeth

This form of non-surgical bite correction is a little bit more drastic than the others, and is usually only used in exceptional circumstances. Dr. Levy can go in and repair any teeth that have been excessively damaged or worn out due to your malocclusion. By using dental constructions such as fillings, crowns, or even dental implants, he can repair your damaged teeth and provide you with a bite that is evenly spaced to better distribute the force of your bite.

Which Form of Non-surgical Bite Correction is Best for You?

There are pros and cons to each form of non-surgical bite correction. Further, what works in one situation will not work in another. You should see Dr. Levy before deciding which route to take.

Dr. Mark Levy, DDS, Can Help with Your Non-surgical Bite Correction

You don’t have to live with your malocclusion, and you don’t have to resign yourself to surgery. Call Mark Levy, DDS at (614) 777-7350 for more information on non-surgical bite correction.