Healthy Bites by Berkeley Dentist, Dr. Mark Perez Cosmetic & Restorative Dentistry

Healthy Bites

An unhealthy bite may be the underlying cause of your aches, pains, discomfort or dental problems. Berkeley dentist, Dr. Perez specializes in providing relief and protecting your teeth and jaw health for the long-term.

Diagnosis and treatment begins when you and our TMJ-specialized dentist have discussed the symptoms that are causing your discomfort. This allows Dr. Perez to identify the source of your problem so it can be addressed before it can worsen or cause other problems.

Is an unhealthy bite causing you pain? Here are some of the symptoms to consider:

• Do you wake up with sore, stiff or tired muscles around your jaws or front of your head?
• Do you have frequent headaches or neck aches?
• Is it painful to open your mouth, eat or yawn?
• Are you missing teeth?
• Are your teeth crooked or uneven?
• Have you or others noticed your teeth are short, worn or with gaps?
• Have you ever cracked a tooth, filling or crown?
• Do you avoid chewing on one side of your mouth due to discomfort?
• Do you have teeth that no longer touch when you bite?
• Is it hard to use your front teeth to take bites of food?
• Do your teeth meet differently from time to time?
• Are you or others aware of any grinding or clenching of your teeth?
• Does your jaw click, pop, grate or lock when you open your mouth?
• Have you noticed a change in your bite that bothers you or causes discomfort?

"Bite Balancing" with this Berkeley dental team has key advantages, including: relieving painful symptoms, protecting your teeth and jaw health and increasing the longevity of any cosmetic or restorative work.

"Bite Balancing" Dentistry

When the tires on a car are balanced, they wear evenly. They also last longer and there are less suspension problems as well. "Bite Balancing" is the means by which accredited dentist, Dr. Perez evaluates how teeth are currently contacting each other. With careful diagnosis, Dr. Perez develops individual treatment plans for creating a more stable bite to provide relief.

The more evenly teeth contact each other, the more stable and healthy your bite becomes. On the other hand, if a tooth has unhealthy contact with another, damage can occur. As experienced dentist, Dr. Perez balances the bites of his patients, he very carefully studies each of these contact areas. He can create beneficial contacts where they are currently missing and slightly adjust the areas where teeth may have been causing damage to each other.

The Dental Solution for Relief

By the time adults reach 40 years of age, Dr. Perez recommends an examination to check for significant wear of teeth. By catching the early symptoms, teeth have a better opportunity to last a lifetime - and more serious conditions can be minimized.

Using the benefit of his decades of experience, this El Cerrito dentist has created this "Bite Balancing" program... a routine technique that creates longevity, comfort and stability for your bite. 

Before any treatment is performed, your TMJ-specialist, Dr. Perez will spend the needed time to explain your specific condition as well as the prescribed therapy that will bring you relief. For some, replacing any missing teeth or closing gaps may be part of the solution.

The procedure is first performed on accurate models of the teeth, with an instrument that simulates your specific bite allowing you to see the beneficial results of this treatment. Afterwards, Dr. Perez will perform the treatment on your actual bite, bringing you relief and maximizing longevity and comfort in your dentition.

After Dr. Perez performs a bite balancing, many times the tendency to grind or clench is completely minimized. Occasionally, however, some people even after the "Bite Balancing" treatment, may continue to grind their teeth at night. As part of their solution, Dr. Perez makes a special stabilizer appliance that eliminates damage to teeth during bruxism (grinding of the teeth.) This appliance is custom designed by our qualified dentist, Dr. Perez of thin, flexible, plastic for more comfort.

The appliance fits only over the tops of the teeth and is specifically designed to help maintain a healthier smile and protect your natural teeth. This solution also helps make beautiful cosmetic dentistry last longer, so you can keep smiling!

See how Dr. Perez treats TMJ and bite alignment conditions, as well as the options available to provide you with relief.