Your teeth are designed to perform as a team, aligning in a way that allows you to chew efficiently and speak clearly. When that alignment is out of balance, discomfort, dental and overall health problems may result. The dentists at West Portal Family Dentistry provide bite adjustment to help San Francisco area patients enjoy better oral health.
You may be in need of bite adjustment if you experience:
Bite adjustment is a technique that improves the way teeth meet together when you bite down, equalizing pressure on the teeth and reducing strain on the jaw joint. In some cases, bite adjustment is a quick, chairside procedure. For other patients, prep work and models are required for complex adjustment.
Bite adjustment is a multi-step process:
A bite adjustment is a dental procedure that aligns the way your upper and lower teeth meet when you bite down. If your bite feels “off,” it can lead to discomfort, excessive tooth wear, or even jaw pain. It is almost like fine-tuning a musical instrument. When everything is aligned just right, your smile functions harmoniously!
You might need a bite adjustment if you experience jaw pain, uneven pressure when you chew, or teeth that feel sensitive after biting. A good indicator is if you clench your teeth and everything feels imbalanced. Your dentist at West Portal Family Dentistry can confirm with an exam!
Not at all! A bite adjustment is painless and often involves smoothing down areas of your teeth or reshaping them slightly to improve alignment.
Your dentist has you bite down on special paper to identify high or uneven spots on your teeth. They then utilize precise tools to make small adjustments, removing tiny amounts of enamel until your bite feels natural and balanced. It’s a simple and efficient process!
An uneven bite causes jaw pain, so a bite adjustment will alleviate this discomfort. However, severe jaw issues or temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders may require additional treatment. Our West Portal Family Dentistry team in San Francisco, California, can guide you toward the perfect solution for your individual needs.
Most of our bite adjustments are completed in a single dental visit, lasting 20 to 40 minutes. Once you enjoy the benefits and alleviate discomfort that you may have been dealing with for years, you will likely leave the chair wondering why you didn’t do it sooner!
Absolutely! You might notice some initial differences in how your teeth feel, but most of our patients adapt quickly. If anything feels unusual after the adjustment, your dentist can fine-tune it further during a follow-up visit.
Bite adjustment can cure or dramatically reduce bruxism (excessive clenching and grinding at night) and TMJ disorders, as well as discomfort and oral damage associated with these conditions. Call West Portal Family Dentistry in San Francisco at (415) 604-9292 to schedule a bite adjustment assessment.
A graduate from UC San Francisco with a Doctor of Dental Science degree, Dr. Terri M. Nguyen has over 20 years of expertise in the field of dental practice. She is known for her caring and passionate nature towards her patients whilst having a wealth of knowledge and technical skill.
Dr. Nguyen continues to update herself with newer and tested treatment methods and technology to ensure that she is capable of delivering the best possible service to her clients. Her areas of specialty include root canal therapy, implant dentistry and cosmetic treatment. She is also a prestigious member of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry.
Dr. Tiffany H. Nguyen grew up in Santa Clara. She studied dentistry at the University of the Pacific in San Francisco, with over 6 years of expertise in the field of dental practice. She is a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) and American Academy of Clear Aligners (AACA).
As a Bay Area native, Dr. Tiffany Nguyen is excited to settle in the West Portal neighborhood and serve her community.
Dr. Laura T. Huynh dedicates herself to providing the highest level of dental care to patients of all ages. While she has over 15 years of experience in all areas of general practice, she especially enjoys pediatric dentistry and cosmetic dentistry for adults.
A UC Irvine graduate, Dr. Huynh obtained her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the Arthur Dugoni Dental School at University of Pacific. She stays on top of the latest trends and technologies in dentistry by following continuing education courses annually. She is a member of the American Dental Association, California Dental Association, and San Francisco Dental Society.
