The occlusodontist takes care of the components of the jaw allowing its opening and closing. It is necessary to consult him during an imbalance of chewing which could, if necessary, quickly turn into headaches or ENT problems.

Occlusodontics is a dental specialty that studies the different components of the mouth used during the opening and closing of the mouth (dental occlusion): teeth, muscles and joints. This branch also studies chewing and swallowing.

A bad occlusion, that is to say a bad closing of the jaw and an abnormal contact between the teeth, can have many consequences on the patient’s health:

• ENT problems
• Headaches, migraines
• Balance problems, dizziness
• Back pain
• Eating disorders due to poor chewing and / or swallowing
• Muscle or joint problems
• Posture disorders
• Bruxism (grinding teeth)

Poor positioning of teeth can also cause pain because the patient cannot find a position that allows them to relax the muscles in the jaw.

Occlusiodontics will rebalance the relationship between the upper and lower teeth so that the jaw joints relax and the symptoms cease.

When the occlusion is bad, the jaws are not wedged in relation to each other and the dental disc wears prematurely and irreversibly. It is therefore necessary to have a good occlusion.

If the patient’s teeth are in contact at rest, if the teeth are clenched to the point that pain appears in the cheeks, or if the patient grinds his teeth at night it is time to make an appointment with the occlusodontist.

Side effects such as migraines or loss of balance can sometimes also prompt you to consult.

The occlusodontist will study the positioning of the teeth and the functioning of the jaw. For this, he will begin with a complete examination of the teeth via impressions and casts to be able to detect abnormal contacts. He will thus observe the balance, good or bad, in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), before prescribing any dental care.

Depending on the degree of importance of the bad bite, the dentist will prescribe different treatments. It can be a simple rehabilitation of the jaw. 

The occlusodontist can also, thanks to a milling of the surface of the teeth, reposition the jaw a little: by filing certain teeth which interfere in the closure or by covering certain teeth with a specific product to find a lost contact.

If the bad occlusion turns out to be too great, the dentist can prescribe an interocclusal orthosis or “muscle relaxation splint”. It is a kind of mouthguard, designed and tailored to the mouth of each patient, made by a dental technician. This splint must generally be worn at night and allows muscles and joints to relax. The patient must wear the appliance for several weeks. Sometimes the gutter can be completed by fitting prostheses or orthodontic appliances.

Above all, an occlusodontist is a dental surgeon. Then there is a specialty in occlusiodontics.

To become a dental surgeon, a bac S is strongly recommended. After the baccalaureate, you have to integrate the first common year of health studies, the PACES, and pass the end-of-year competition, which allows you to start studying dentist. The studies then last from 5 to 7 years before being able to exercise. 

At the end of the 2nd cycle, it is possible to opt either for a short 3rd cycle of one year, or for the preparation of the internship in 3 additional years. Unlike that of medicine, the internship in odontology is not qualifying and does not give the title of specialist. It allows for a university hospital career.

A single diploma confers an official specialization: the certificate of special clinical studies, mention orthodontics (CECSMO), the latter requires 4 years of additional training.

The visit to the occlusodontist is prepared in the same way as that to the dentist. 

A good tooth washing is recommended. Also check your medical history and any medications you are taking. Prepare your questions and think about the different secondary problems that you would like to talk to the practitioner about (headaches, dizziness, etc.).