Unbalanced or uneven bites are common in patients who have a misalignment with the Temporomandibular joints. They cause the patients to look and feel older. In order for the tendons, muscles, bones, and nerves to feel comfortable, the TMJs have to function in harmony with the bite. The patient benefits cosmetically and physically when the unbalanced bite is corrected properly.

What are the causes and symptoms of an uneven jaw?

Uneven jaws are caused due to several reasons. They can be caused due to external trauma, TMD or Temporomandibular joint disorders, birth defects and teeth misalignment. 

• Trauma can break, fracture or dislocate your jaw. A major break in the jaw requires surgery and a dislocated jaw may require surgical stabilization.
• TMJ disorders result due to trauma, arthritis, bruxism or other reasons that apply severe stresses on the joints.
• Birth defects may cause a naturally crooked jaw, which is also referred to as a faulty jaw. A faulty jaw can be corrected with surgery.
• Teeth misalignment doesn’t allow your jaw to settle in its correct position. Retainers or braces can be used to correct this condition.

The symptoms of an uneven jaw include stiff movement in the jaws, pain in the shoulder and neck, clicking or popping sound when you move the lower jaw, pain in the TMJs, etc.

What are the problems you can face due to an uneven bite?

• The muscles responsible for chewing stay active 24 hours a day if your teeth meet imperfectly.
• In the absence of food, these muscles produce excessive force if they are active.
• Excessive forces applied on the teeth can cause teeth cracking and fracturing. They can cause premature wear of the teeth.
• Loss of calcium can happen at the root margins of the teeth due to this, which may leave deep notches. This can lead to receding gums and can make your teeth loosen from their sockets, causing early teeth loss.

What are the treatment options for uneven jaws and unbalanced bite?

• Surgery is required to correct your jaw position. Your doctor will tell you the right type of surgery depending on the underlying cause
• Maxillary osteotomy is a surgery that is performed to correct open bites or crossbites.
• Mandibular osteotomy is used to correct overbite and protruding lower jaw.
• Genioplasty is a surgery used to fix issues related to the chin.
• Jaw wiring is a surgery that is performed to position the jaw in a specific place or to provide support if there is a crack or fracture.

Call our practice in the Bay Area or schedule an online appointment to know more about treating your unbalanced bite.