Dental occlusion refers to the way your teeth relate to one another.
For ideal occlusion, a correct relationship between the jaws and proper tooth positioning must be established, ensuring the maintenance of all oral functions – chewing, speech, swallowing, and aesthetics.
Incorrect occlusion can alter one or more of these functions, as well as cause pathological changes to the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), potentially leading to temporomandibular dysfunctions, which may result in headaches or neck pain, posture changes, joint noises (clicks), ear ringing, limited mouth opening and closing, tooth wear, and difficulty chewing.
One of the most common occlusion-related pathologies is bruxism, which refers to teeth grinding, especially during sleep, causing wear on the teeth.