Anyone have advice on how to identify precisely what part of a bridge needs to be shaved down to get a more comfortable bite? It's been about a year now and I've had maybe 4 "adjustments" done. Each time it seems to get a little better, but it's not quite there. They always have me bite on some paper to figure out where to shave. What exactly does that do? Is there another type of "bite test" that can be done? It always feels okay in the office, but the real test is of course eating, and there is still some discomfort there. I can tell it's still a bit high. It just seems really tricky to explain where the discomfort is so the dentist can get the right spot. I'm seriously getting tired of going there, and I'm feeling like a "picky" pain-in the butt patient. I think the dentist has reservations about shaving it down any further, and has even gone to shaving off the teeth above it to get the bite correct, which I totally disagree with. I'm about really to get a tool and do it myself!!

Millerprof,

The paper that you bite down on to check the occlusion is a carbon paper and it leaves a dark mark where the teeth are hitting hard or unevenly. This is the usual test that is done. It is important that the occlusion is as close to perfect as possible because if it's not, then you could permanently injure one or more of the teeth that are being hit too hard.

My suggestion is to have the occlusion checked again, but this time sit up in the chair instead of lying down. By the way, sitting the patient upright is done routinely, so it's not a weird request on your part. The reason to sit up is because the jaw closes differently when in a sitting position than when reclining. That could be one reason why the bite feels off when chewing because your in an upright position.

Hope this information is helpful to you...
Bryanna

Interesting! Thanks for the insight!