Can Bite Equilibration Cure Chronic Headaches?

Tooth misalignment doesn’t have to be obvious. Many patients with uneven bites don’t even realize it until the discrepancy leads to symptoms like tooth sensitivity and problems with their jaws’ joints, like TMJ disorder. When your bite is out of balance, bite equilibration can help improve symptoms like chronic headaches, toothaches, difficulty biting and chewing, and more.

How does a bite problem make my head hurt?

Headaches are a common symptom of bite misalignment and TMJ disorder thanks to the nerve group that controls your jaw’s movement. Known as the trigeminal nerve, it’s the largest of your cranial nerve groups, and an uneven bite can cause undue pressure on the nerve’s various branches. The trigeminal nerve can carry the discomfort throughout your head, face, jaw, and neck until the discrepancy is corrected.

What does bite equilibration mean?

Restoring your bite’s equilibrium – known as bite equilibration – is one or a combination of conservative treatments designed to help your bite operate more efficiently. If the surface of one or more teeth is worn down, or if your teeth are slightly out of alignment, then correcting your bite can be as simple as bonding and contouring and/or porcelain veneers.

What if I grind my teeth; will bite equilibration still work?

Teeth-grinding, a condition known as bruxism, can exacerbate a bite imbalance by further wearing down the chewing surfaces of your teeth. If you suffer from bruxism, then the first step to correcting your bite may be correcting whatever is causing you to unconsciously grind your teeth. Otherwise, you may once again experience bite problems, TMJ disorder, and chronic headaches as you grind away your restorations.

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