Bite (Occlusion)
Also known as: Occlusion, malocclusion, bite force, bite adjustment
How your upper and lower teeth meet — critical to implant longevity.
Occlusion refers to the way your upper and lower teeth come together when you bite and chew. In implant dentistry, achieving a correct bite is critical — excessive or uneven forces on an implant crown can accelerate wear, fracture porcelain, or in extreme cases place harmful stress on the implant itself.
Why it matters for implants
Natural teeth have a periodontal ligament — a shock-absorbing layer between root and bone. Implants do not. This means implants transmit bite forces directly to the bone and are less forgiving of occlusal overload. Getting the bite right at the restoration stage is therefore essential.
Bite adjustment
After fitting your implant crown, your clinician will carefully check the bite using thin articulating paper and adjust the crown height until contacts are even and comfortable. Small adjustments are normal and expected.
Bruxism
Bruxism (tooth grinding) places very high forces on teeth and implants. Patients who grind their teeth may be advised to wear a night guard to protect their implant restoration. Severe bruxism may affect the type of restoration recommended.
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