Do you wake up with a headache that seems to come from nowhere? Do you feel jaw pain after a long day, or notice that your teeth look worn down? You might be dealing with a problem that has nothing to do with cavities or gum disease.
You could have a bad bite. A bad bite means your teeth don’t come together the way they should when you close your mouth. This is also called malocclusion, and it’s more common than you might think. Many people live with the symptoms of a bad bite for years without realizing it. They treat the headaches, the jaw pain, the worn teeth, but they never address the root cause.
At Chapel Hill Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, Dr. James Furgurson and Dr. Nathan White use advanced technology to diagnose and treat bite problems. We are located at 501 Eastowne Dr STE 150, Chapel Hill, NC 27514.
What Is a Bad Bite?
Your bite is how your upper and lower teeth fit together when you close your mouth. When everything lines up correctly, your teeth come together evenly, and the forces of chewing are distributed across all your teeth. When your bite is off, some teeth hit too hard, and others don’t hit at all. This puts extra stress on certain teeth, your jaw muscles, and your temporomandibular joints (TMJ).
Think of it like a car with a bad alignment. The car will still drive, but the tires will wear out unevenly, and the steering wheel will pull to one side. Over time, the extra stress causes damage. The same thing happens with your jaw. A bad bite creates ongoing muscle tension and strain. This can lead to fatigue, inflammation, and eventually pain.
Bad bites come in several forms. An overbite happens when your upper teeth overlap your lower teeth too much. An underbite is the opposite. A crossbite happens when your upper teeth bite inside your lower teeth. An open bite is when your front teeth don’t touch at all when you bite down. These are just a few examples of how teeth can be misaligned.
Signs of a Bad Bite
How do you know if you have a bad bite? Here are some common signs to look out for:
- Jaw Pain and Soreness. If your jaw feels tired or sore, especially after eating or at the end of the day, that is a sign. Many patients describe a deep ache in their jaw muscles. This happens when those muscles work overtime to compensate for a misaligned bite.
- Clicking, Popping, or Grinding Sounds. When you open or close your mouth, do you hear a click or a pop? This means the joint isn’t moving smoothly. It could signal a more serious problem. In some cases, the jaw can even lock in an open or closed position.
- Frequent Headaches. This is one of the most common and most overlooked symptoms. Tension headaches that start at your temples or greet you in the morning are related to jaw tension. The constant muscle strain from a bad bite can easily trigger headaches.
- Worn, Chipped, or Sensitive Teeth. When your bite is uneven, some teeth take more force than they should. Over time, this extra force wears down the enamel. You might notice that your teeth look flat, chipped, or more sensitive to hot and cold temperatures.
- Bruxism (Teeth Grinding). Many people grind or clench their teeth at night. A misaligned bite is a common cause. Your jaw muscles are trying to find a comfortable position, and grinding is the result. It’s like working out those muscles all night long. It’s no surprise they are sore in the morning.
- Limited Jaw Movement. Do you struggle to open your mouth wide? Does it feel stiff or stuck? This is a clear sign that something isn’t right with your jaw joint or muscles.
- Ear Pain or Tinnitus. The temporomandibular joint is located right next to your ear. Problems in this joint can cause ear pain, a feeling of fullness in the ear, or even ringing in the ears (tinnitus).
The Domino Effect of an Untreated Bad Bite
Ignoring a bad bite can lead to a cascade of problems that go far beyond jaw pain. When forces are not distributed evenly, some teeth take more of a beating. This can lead to accelerated wear, chipping, fractures, and even tooth decay in vulnerable areas.
The abnormal forces can also stress the gum attachments, leading to gum recession and bone loss. Chronic jaw discomfort can disrupt sleep, affect concentration, and take a toll on your overall life.
How Dr. Furgurson and Dr. White Diagnose and Treat Bad Bites
The first step in treating a bad bite is finding out exactly what is going on. At Chapel Hill Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, we use advanced technology to get a complete picture of your bite. One of our most important tools is the T-Scan system.
What Is the T-Scan?
The T-Scan is a computerized bite analysis system. It uses a thin sensor that you bite down on. This sensor measures bite force and timing. It shows us where the pressure points are and when they happen.
The T-Scan is a major improvement over older methods. Traditionally, dentists used articulating paper, which leaves colored marks on your teeth to show where they are hitting. The problem is that it’s not very accurate. It doesn’t measure the force of the bite, so you can’t tell which contacts are too heavy and which are too light. This can lead to adjusting the wrong teeth.
The T-Scan is different. It provides objective, data-driven results. We can see exactly which teeth hit too hard and which don’t hit at all. This allows us to make precise adjustments, not guesses.
How We Fix a Bad Bite
Once we have the T-Scan data, we can develop a treatment plan to correct your bite. Treatment depends on the specific cause of your bad bite.
- Occlusal Adjustment. Sometimes, a bad bite can be corrected by making small adjustments to the shape of your teeth. Using the T-Scan data, Dr. Furgurson or Dr. White can gently reshape the biting surfaces of specific teeth. This is called occlusal equilibration. The goal is to remove the interference points and allow your teeth to come together evenly.
- Restorative Treatment. If your teeth are worn down or chipped, we may need to rebuild them to restore a proper bite. Dental crowns or porcelain veneers can restore your teeth to their correct height and shape. This improves your smile’s appearance and helps correct your bite.
- Orthodontic Treatment. In some cases, the best way to fix a bad bite is by moving the teeth. Invisalign is an excellent option for many patients. It can gently shift your teeth into better alignment, improving both the function and appearance of your smile.
- Night Guards. For patients who grind their teeth at night, a custom night guard can protect your teeth from further wear. This is a first step in managing symptoms while we address the underlying bite issue.
Why Choose Us
Dr. James Furgurson and Dr. Nathan White lead our team. Both are proud North Carolina natives with advanced training. Dr. Furgurson holds Fellowships in the Academy of General Dentistry, the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, and the Resnik Implant Institute. Dr. White is an adjunct associate professor at the UNC School of Dentistry.
They use advanced technology like the T-Scan and CBCT scanner to provide precise, patient-focused care. We serve patients from Chapel Hill, Durham, Cary, Carrboro, and all across the Triangle region.
Schedule Your Bite Evaluation Today
If you are experiencing any signs of a bad bite, don’t wait. A bad bite can worsen over time, leading to more pain and damage.
Call us at 919-736-6175 or request an appointment online. We will evaluate your bite and help you find a solution that brings you comfort and protects your smile for life.