When it comes to a healthy smile without tooth decay and gum disease, one of the things that can harm it is occlusal disease, a destructive condition that damages the teeth when biting down. When the bite is not aligned, the teeth and the muscles which move the jaw and jaw joint harms the teeth and wears down tooth enamel. In fact, occlusal disease is the number one common dental disorder as well as the number one reason why dental restorations fail, and oftentimes goes undiagnosed.
So how does occlusal disease manifest? The patient may display wear on the teeth’s biting surfaces, for example, in the front teeth, the tooth wear can make them appear smaller while in the back teeth, the wear can make the molars appear flat. The patient might experience tooth sensitivity when eating or drinking items that are hot or cold, and over time, teeth may loosen and shift, feel sore and become prone to fracture. In addition, the jaw muscles can become sore and painful and cause headaches, while the jaw joints make clicking and popping sound moving the jaws.
Treatment in the early stages can be as simple as a mild reshaping of the teeth that work to stabilize the bite, restore teeth that are worn, and employing orthodontics when necessary. If the occlusal disease is left undiagnosed and untreated, the cost of treatment rises along with the complexity of the condition. A thorough examination, diagnosis, and early intervention are the keys to creating a stable bite that allows the teeth, muscles and jaws to function harmoniously.
At Los Angeles Institute of Clinical Dentistry & Ruiz Dental Seminars, Dr. Jose-Luis Ruiz and our team offer courses that educate dental professionals on how to implement least invasive dentistry techniques to better serve patients by ultimately improving their oral health. When it comes to occlusion, complex cases, and how the bite comes together, the course shows how to prevent further tooth damage and preserve more of the tooth and the enamel.
Implementing Occlusal Therapy Workshop – Level 1 will show you how to lessen or halt fractured dental restorations as well as post-operative sensitivity, encourage wearing night guards to protect teeth and tooth enamel, show you how to make 20-30 nightguards each month, and expand your services in dental restorations along with esthetic dentistry. Our hands-on approach, 2-day workshop will show you everything you need to know about occlusion and occlusal therapy. You will also learn how to educate your patients so that they are fully on board with the treatment process.
If you would like 2019 to help you bring in more patients and serve them better than ever before, we invite you to check out our Implementing Occlusal Therapy Workshop while earning 16 CE Hours.
We have openings on the following dates:
-February 22-23, 2019
-June 6-7, 2019
-November 15-16, 2019
You will complete this Level 1 workshop with the knowledge you need to go back home and start treating patients right away! We are always happy to hear our course attendees success stories and how they changed both their practice while changing the lives of their patients for the better. We invite you to give us a call at 818-729-9121 or check out the course.