Note: Video of the broadcast follows the story below.
When teeth fit together properly, we prevent many problems such as cracked or broken enamel, clinching and grinding, TMJ pain, headaches, even bone loss. "I didn’t know I did have bite problems," said dental patient Guinevere Grier.
For Guinevere Grier, a bite problem led to a broken tooth.
"My bite had not been calibrated correctly, if at all. So then, in the process of just actually eating a turkey sandwich, the whole tooth just broke in half," she said.
To evaluate Guinevere’s bite, Dr. Susan Hollar relies on a computerized device called a Tekscan or T-scan. A sensor scans the entire mouth and measures the amount of force on each pair of teeth.
"So we see how much pressure is on every tooth and we see a balance of the pressure on either side. If there is more pressure on one side than another, a patient will tend to squeeze, subconsciously, which starts a clinching and grinding habit," said Dr. Hollar.
Before computerized scans, dentists only used low-tech articulating paper, a special material to see how teeth contact other teeth. But the paper cannot measure timing and force, critical information needed to recalibrate a patient’s bite.
Dr. Hollar continued, "Reshaping of teeth so that they fit together evenly and mesh without bumping." So if you have cracked or broken teeth, or just wear and tear from grinding or clinching, at your next dental visit, ask your dentist to evaluate your bite. For Baylor College of Dentistry, Texas A&M System, I’m Dr. Linda Niessen, Channel 8 News.
For Viewer inquires:
Dr. Susan Hollar
2411 Westwood
Arlington, TX 76012
817-261-3392
www.susanhollar.com
Additional Information:
www.tekscan.com Click on “Dental” tab.
The T-Scan Computerized Occlusal
Analysis System may reduce the risk of:
implant failure, traumatized teeth, unstable dentures,
ineffective splints, and porcelain fractures.
STORY: HIGH TECH BITE
SCRIPT #860 SHOOT: 8/25/07
AIRDATE: Monday, September 24, 2007
DHC Master #22 Timecode: 34:30 SOVT: 1:36
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