Dr. Gordon Christensen says, The new paradigm shift in 3-D occlusion will be to identify stressed occlusions and develop treatment options that are conservative and preventive.
At age 18, the pattern is totally set and now you can predict how an occlusion will age and which teeth are taking all the force. Understanding how the occlusion ages and the status of the current function is the initial step to a successful and predictable treatment plan.
The bite ages over the decades due to several factors: A person causes uneven wear by chewing more on one side than the other. Amalgams, composites, porcelain, gold all wear differently and also cause uneven wear of the opposing teeth. Add orthodontic problems to this mix and the wear increases even more. As the occlusion ages, the muscles of the head and neck are forced into a dysfunctional relationship. The joint systems follow along and eventually the TMJ condylar relationships are affected. Some individuals will be able to physiologically adapt over a lifetime, but most do not. Asymmetric function, over time, will stress the anatomical systems to the point of exacerbating their symptoms. |