Did you know... Just like a fingerprint, our bite is unique to each individual?

When you think of a unique characteristic of our human bodies, the first thing that comes to mind is our fingerprints. However, there are other qualities of the human body that can also be used for unique identification one of which is our bite.

This is an important idea, and can go beyond working out who took the first sneaky nibble of your snack.

The importance of our bite

Even the most minor filling or restoration can make an impact on the comfort and function of a patients bite. Most people who have had a restoration can remember their tooth feeling different, high, or proud. Sometimes it even feels like there is more bite pressure acting on neighbouring teeth after a restoration. This is because the intricate and dynamic relationship of our occlusion. The way our teeth meet, and function with one another means even the most subtle changes are noticed.

Sudden changes in our bite can take a long time to feel normal since our enamel is very hard. 

This idea is very important when multiple teeth are being restored. And especially if teeth are being replaced such as from implant treatment, or the construction of a denture. Ensuring that our bites function comfortably is critical to the long term success of any restoration.

But it's not only the way that our teeth bite together that is important. The movement of the jaw, tongue, cheeks and lips all play a role. For full mouth reconstructions such as in the creation of dentures, the bite is recorded under precise conditions.

In some circumstances, such as certain orthodontic malocclusions, changing the bite is the primary goal of treatment. This is to ensure that our back teeth can chew efficiently, and the biting surfaces of our front teeth can be used to snip through certain foods.

Since every bite is unique, there is no one size fits all approach to preventative and restorative dental care. If you would like to discuss your unique oral health needs book a consultation with Dr Kate Amos or Dr Sam Rosehill at Ethical Dental on 6652 3185 or book online.

To learn more about how your teeth bite and check check out our article 'Did you know… Teeth need opposing partners to chew properly?'.