As tooth structures wear down with age, the physical properties of our bite and occlusion change simultaneously. Left untreated for an extended time, what was once a natural resting and biting postion for the lower jaw moves toward unnatural positions. The bite collapses.

A natural phenomenon as we age, bite collapse can cause TMJ pain, increase wear and tear on anterior tooth structures, a change in facial features, difficulty
in smiling and even cause us to look older than our
real age (granny mouth).

Mother Nature - Genetic Endowments

Mother nature, genetics and a laundry list of oral health habits affect how our teeth and jaw relationships grow and develop into adult smiles. Treatments such as orthodontic adjustments, multiple cavity fillings and extractions are commonplace for many of us as we attempt to deal with what we were endowed with or as treatments that preserve the integrity of our teeth, regardless of our oral health habits.

Overcoming Genetics in Dentistry

Our patient, an attractive 30 something year old male had the beginning stages of dental problems that typically don't occur, as a natural phenomenon, until a person is in their late forties or fifties.

As can be seen in the first two photographs, our patient had an extremely gummy smile and undersized tooth structures on the upper arch. Multiple diastemas are also evident on the anterior upper teeth.

The long term repercussions of having disproportionate tooth sizes is difficult to diagnose during our early years. As we age however, diagnosis becomes easier. Looking closely at the patient's upper and lower anterior teeth, it can be noted that unusual wear is beginning to appear, indicating a change in bite dynamics.

Our patient had several goals that needed to be attained. The gummy smile appearance was first and foremost. Halting and reversing the cumulative effects
of a collapsing bite were also important.

Although the patient was recommended for an "all at once" bite adjustment and cosmetic makeover with another dentist, Dr. Halmaghi helped him understand the occlusion modifications for his jaw structures needed to be changed incrementally, through a step by step process to assure natural repositioning of the mandibular and maxillary jaws. Corrections made too quickly usually result in the jaw relationships becoming worse.

Best Treatment Outline

The patient and Dr. Halmaghi, through articulation studies, were able to make the
best choices of which tooth structures would be treated first. Davinci Veneers were
used selectively to resize the anterior teeth, to the cosmetic specifications made by
the client.

Selective gum shaping and recontouring was used as needed to create harmony across the new gingival arches on the treated teeth.

The anterior resizing required the need for onlays and inlays on the posterior teeth, since the bite was going to be in the beginning stages of "re-opening." Eventually, additional structures will be treated with new crowns and additional veneers, resulting in a degree of perfection that Mother Nature normally provides.

Interestingly, Dr. Halmaghi's treatment cost was less than half of what other doctors recommended. This unusual experience occured due to the unecessary immediate need of additional cosmetic and reconstructive components. As the occlusal relationship normalizes, restorative materials will be used as required through analysis of articulation study data.