Dentistry is an exciting, ever-changing field. Experts have varying opinions on a wide range of topics, particularly occlusion. Occlusion refers to the way the teeth contact one another, both when the mouth is at rest (static occlusion) and when a person is chewing (dynamic occlusion).
Occlusion dentistry is an approach to prosthodontics, reconstructive dentistry, that involves an in-depth understanding of the way the oral structures function together.
For example, if Dr. Lamberti is designing a crown for a dental implant, he does more than make sure the crown fits in well with the teeth that are adjacent to it. He also considers the position of the opposing tooth (or teeth). If the opposing tooth has shifted out of its anatomically correct position, an interference results and bite forces are incorrect. This affects both the crown’s long-term viability and the patient’s biting function capability.
Essentially, he works backwards to create each patient’s treatment plan. Dr. Lamberti determines your ideal bite, then uses the principles of oral function to determine how best to help you achieve optimum occlusion via dental prosthetics.
Have you ever received a crown or bridge from a dentist and thought at first that it was fantastic? However, it may not have lasted as long as you hoped. Or, you may have discovered that your jaw began to hurt. That could have been due to slight imperfections in your new tooth that caused you to favor chewing on one side of your mouth, resulting in unnecessary stress on both your prosthetic restoration and your facial muscles. Because our dentists have such a comprehensive understanding of occlusal mechanics, they are able to prevent such issues. He also knows how to take accurate, viable impressions, which minimize mistakes and lead to less in-chair time for patients.
Sadly, many dental schools do not give occlusion the attention it deserves. In fact, they may gloss over the topic and simply urge students to “get it even.” That is, the goal may be just to make sure that prosthetics provide even bite contact and look decent. Dr. Lamberti goes beyond those basic standards, and he is happy to put his expertise to use to help his fellow dentists ensure that his patients have the best possible treatment experience from beginning to end. He gladly accepts referrals from other dental offices.