Occlusion
Occlusion refers to the entire way the upper and lower teeth come together. It goes beyond simply "the teeth fit well" — the core of occlusion is which tooth takes the chewing force, and in what direction.
It may be the real reason a restoration keeps breaking or coming loose
When force concentrates on a particular tooth, the restoration there will keep breaking or coming off the same way no matter how many times it's remade. This is why simply rebonding it isn't the answer when a crown or laminate veneer keeps causing problems. Unless the distribution of force is changed, the outcome repeats.
Teeth, gums, and the TMJ are all involved
A poor bite can lead to tooth wear and cracking, stress on the jawbone in specific areas, and discomfort in the TMJ. Even though fine-tuning the height when making a new restoration may seem like a tedious step, this connection is exactly why it can't be skipped.
Dr. Jongbum Lee's approach — When a restoration breaks or keeps coming loose, we check the bite before remaking it. Fixing only the result while leaving the cause in place lets the same thing happen again.
Q. Can I tell for myself if my bite is off?
A. Chewing only on one side, feeling that a certain tooth touches first, and morning jaw soreness are all clues. That said, an accurate diagnosis needs a bite check with marking paper and a look at the wear pattern, so if the discomfort keeps coming back, have it checked.
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