So what happens when someone has occlusal disease?

While each person has their own indications and causes, here is one way that a destructive bite can cause problems. While these diagrams show only molars, the process of destruction can come from many different bite discrepancies.

STABLE vs. DESTRUCTIVE FORCES

As you can see in the above diagram, the stable bite causes the forces of chewing to be in line with the way the tooth sits in the jawbone. In a destructive bite (right diagram) the forces are in directions that cause gum recession, abfractions, wear, a flattened bite, bone loss, and even jaw problems (TMJ). Note that the tip of the upper tooth next to the tongue and the tip of the lower tooth closest to the cheek are hitting on inclines instead of the grooves they were meant to touch.

As we chew and function, the progression continues; wear on both the upper and lower teeth occurs as the tips start to flatten out and the grooves in the center of the teeth become worn and rounded. This is shown on the right diagram while the stable bite is shown on the left.

On the right side of the diagram, it is easy to see how the teeth are now mostly flat. That means that more and more tooth is grinding across each other which leads to the Results of Occlusal Disease.