Ever see someone with that chimpanzee smile? The one where their teeth look shorter in the face and taller in the mouth.
Often this recession is caused a neuromuscular phenomenon. Dr. Allen has encountered 1000’s of mouths where there’s a lost connection between the brain and the muscles of the face.
However, there could be many other causes.
- Grinding Your Teeth
- Pharmaceutical Side-Effects
- Poorly Designed Crowns and Veneers
- Overfilled Dental Fillings
- Misaligned Teeth
- Dental or Periodontal Disease
If you’re experiencing a dental recession, be sure to choose an orthodontist skilled in working with “occlusion.” These talents can only be realized by an orthodontist after extensive, focused continuing education and years of experience in this area.
Dr. Allen believes that orthodontic finishes are not complete unless they are properly adjusted into the ideal position for each tooth relative to its opposing tooth. This position also doubles as the best place for the tooth to resist any unwanted forces on it during the left/right/front/back movements of the jaw. This process is called an occlusal adjustment and is the most complex, most undelivered concept in dentistry today.
Orthodontists typically use the term “settling” as a way of justifying an incomplete finish. It’s just an excuse to appease a noncompliant patient. “It’s ok you’re finished… almost.”
The idea behind settling, aka the science of tooth eruption, says that teeth will continue to grow into the mouth until they hit an opposing structure. This can be another tooth or the gums. Unfortunately, this is a highly variable and unpredictable notion. You’re essentially letting the teeth drift into whatever position they happen to fall into. It’s like playing roulette for an ideal finish… with about the same odds..
Dr. Allen will ensure your finish is truly complete. No one deserves an unsettled bite after investing 2-4 years in braces.
