An ideal bite. What is it? We all have a different dental structure, and this makes it hard to say that there is a normal smile. But if we want to identify an ideal bite, then we need to assess it on the basis of the 32 teeth that are in an adult’s mouth. We also have to add the teeth’s health, and how they are arranged on both the lower and upper jaws. These are the parameters of a perfect dental bite.

It is easy for anyone to have a misunderstanding of what an ideal set of teeth is comprised off. Essentially, most people easily focus on the visibility of the front teeth in order to identify an ideal bite. An ideal bite has to be assessed correctly, taking into account the number of teeth, and the arrangement of teeth in the lower and upper jaws. There has to be a harmonious relationship among all the teeth that are opposite, and adjacent each jaw.

Not everyone can conform to the perfect arrangement of the teeth because of the different sizes, shapes, bone structures and cultural differences. These parameters have led orthodontists to state that there is no ‘normal’ when it comes to the perfect teeth because of the variability of the parameters. But for you to be classified as having the ideal teeth, orthodontists have particular ways of assessing the parameters. We are going to look at the ways they use to determine an ideal set of teeth.

Why is your bite position important?

There are many more benefits apart from aesthetic reasons for a proper bite. They include:

• It can help you to avoid problems such as gum disease or tooth decay
• You are at a lower risk of breaking or cracking your teeth
• It can also help you to avoid the tooth enamel from wearing out unevenly
• Clear speech
• You can chew food efficiently
• Avoiding issues such as undue strain on the joints of the jaw which can lead to a headache

What does an ideal bite look like from the front?

If you look at the whole set of teeth and you divide them into two parts, the left and the right, the middle line which divides the two sets of teeth at the incisors on both the lower and upper jaw, have to coincide. There is also an aesthetic zone which includes all the teeth that fall between the canines on both rows. This is also what is called the smile zone because it includes the teeth that show when the lips open up for a smile. All the teeth in both zones need to have a balanced relationship.

Additionally, the biting edges need to be straight; but you should also know that it is natural to have the edges of the teeth form a contoured pattern. This makes it possible to identify someone who has machined dentures or ill-designed veneers and someone who has natural sets of teeth. There should also be a stepwise relationship between the front teeth on the upper row. The central tooth, which is the incisor that is on the mid-line, and the lateral incisor and the canine need to be at different levels.

Note

• Central tooth: line that dissects the top and bottom sets of teeth into two sections, right and left
• Lateral tooth: the tooth next to the central incisor but away from the mid-line

What does an ideal bite look like from the top or bottom?

When you open up your mouth, and you look up at the bottoms of your upper teeth, you should see an arch view of your bite. Alternatively, if you draw a curved line on an image of the view of the top part of your upper teeth, the curved line that is drawn over the teeth should be symmetrical and balanced in an ideal scenario. However, not everyone can achieve this because of the different shapes of the teeth and bone structure.

The same should happen when I look at the top of your lower teeth when you hold a nice clear mirror in front of your mouth. All the teeth in the raw have to be aligned in an even manner; all the teeth should be touching without gaps or overlapping between them.

What does an ideal bite look like from the side?

Your teeth should be aligned in a cog-like manner from the side view; the same way gears fit into each other. This aspect indicates that your teeth can work properly when you bite. If the edges of the teeth on the upper jaw bite behind or directly on the edges of the lower incisors, then you have an underbite. Now, if the upper teeth on the upper jaw extend too far forward in front of the incisors on the lower jaw, then you have an overjet. When you look at the upper teeth from the side, they need to fit together with the bottom teeth.

Treatments to Get You the Ideal Bite

When dental procedures are recommended by an orthodontist, it is not to fix the short-term issue, but to ensure that your mouth can serve you better in the long-term. Wearing braces will improve your smile, but it can help you also help in the digestive process.

To correct a bad bite, a proper diagnosis is done by an orthodontist. Once the cause of a bad bite is identified, it is evaluated, and a correction plan is prepared. This plan can have either one or more treatments. Treatment can consist of both rebuilding and reshaping, dentures and crowns, jaw surgery or other orthodontic procedures. Some of the common orthodontic procedures that you will be exposed to include:

• Additive Coronoplasty
• Reductive Coronoplasty
• Partial dentures and crowns
• Full dentures
• Orthodontic treatment like installation of Invisalign
• Orthodontic surgery and jaw stabilization

Conclusion

For more information regarding how to get the perfect smile and how to get braces like Invisalign and all modern orthodontic apparatus, call Dr. Nease or Dr. Higginbotham.

Contact us today and walk away with a smile!

Gaffney Office
424 Hyatt Street, Suite E
Gaffney, SC 29341
Phone: (864) 579-7700

What does an ideal bite look like? {ANSWERS]