Occlusion Dentistry – Boca Raton, FL

What Is Occlusion Dentistry?

Occlusion dentistry is an approach to prosthodontics, reconstructive dentistry, that involves an in-depth understanding of the way the oral structures function together. Our dentists use landmark anatomy, such as the retromolar pads, as an important indicator and basis for designing replacement teeth that will function optimally and last as long as possible.

The retromolar pads are always present and easily identifiable; they look like small masses of soft tissue at the back of the mouth. There is a right pad and a left pad, and research has revealed a special relationship of the pads to each other and to the jaw joint (the hinge that the jaw opens and closes on).  This anatomy, when identified properly, plays a significant role in ensuring that a patient’s bite force is evenly distributed and that their restoration provides optimal, long-lasting function.

For example, if Dr. Lamberti is designing a crown for a dental implant, he does more than make sure the crown fits in well with the teeth that are adjacent to it. He also considers the position of the opposing tooth (or teeth). If the opposing tooth has shifted out of its anatomically correct position, an interference results and bite forces are incorrect.  This affects both the crown’s long-term viability and the patient’s biting function capability.

Essentially, he works backwards to create each patient’s treatment plan. Dr. Lamberti determines your ideal bite, then uses the principles of oral function to determine how best to help you achieve optimum occlusion via dental prosthetics.

What Principles Are Involved in Occlusion Dentistry?

There are three basic steps involved in chewing food:

• Incision: Taking a bite
• Repositioning the food: The tongue moves the food toward the back of the mouth
• Mastication: The teeth toward the back of the mouth chew the food

When viewed from the position of physics, the above steps make perfect sense. The bite force is strongest closest to the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), which connects the lower jaw to the rest of the skull. Think about it: if you’re using a pair of scissors to cut cardboard, you’d place the cardboard as close to the scissors’ hinge as possible to maximize your leverage. You also naturally put food at the back of your mouth to chew. Therefore, your molars get put under a lot of pressure every day.

Our dentists use the principles of occlusion and oral mechanics to make sure that the prosthetics they design can stand up to everyday usage for as long as possible.

Why Should Occlusion Dentistry Matter to Patients?

Have you ever received a crown or bridge from a dentist and thought at first that it was fantastic? However, it may not have lasted as long as you hoped. Or, you may have discovered that your jaw began to hurt. That could have been due to slight imperfections in your new tooth that caused you to favor chewing on one side of your mouth, resulting in unnecessary stress on both your prosthetic restoration and your facial muscles. Because our dentists have such a comprehensive understanding of occlusal mechanics, they are able to prevent such issues. He also knows how to take accurate, viable impressions, which minimize mistakes and lead to less in-chair time for patients.

Why Should Occlusion Dentistry Matter to Dentists?

Sadly, many dental schools do not give occlusion the attention it deserves. In fact, they may gloss over the topic and simply urge students to “get it even.” That is, the goal may be just to make sure that prosthetics provide even bite contact and look decent. Drs. Lamberti and Feit go beyond those basic standards, and they are happy to put their expertise to use to help his fellow dentists ensure that their patients have the best possible treatment experience from beginning to end. They gladly accept referrals from other dental offices.

Learn More About Restorative Referrals

Get to Know Dr. Feit

Dr. Steven H. Feit is a restorative dentist in Boca Raton with over 30 years of experience in the exciting field of prosthodontics. He strongly believes that if you can’t understand how something works, you can’t fix it. That is why he has spent so much time on studying occlusion and oral function. Although the state of Florida only requires that dentists attend 30 hours of continuing education every two years, he regularly spends an average of 120 hours each year on further his education. Only 30 hours are required every two years by the State of Florida.

Dr. Feit is eager to share his knowledge with the world. During the past 30 years, he has lectured in front of some of the most prestigious dental and medical organizations in the world, including the International Congress of Oral Implantologists (ICOI), and The American College of Prosthodontists. He is involved locally in South Florida through the South Palm Beach County Dental Society and the Broward County Dental Society. Dr. Feit was an expert witness for the Agency of Healthcare Administration for the Florida Board of Dentistry for 6 years. After that, he began to serve an expert witness in dental cases helping patients and doctors sort things out to everyone’s advantage.  He is always working closely with a number of other experts in his field. He is also a patent holder for some unique dental instruments, such as a special type of dental implant torque wrench.