Tekscan® Bite Analysis | Oconomowoc, WI Dentist

Expert Smile Designs uses Tekscan bite analysis in Oconomowoc, WI to measure how a patient’s teeth actually come together, with Dr. Tom A. Stamas and Dr. Paul Stamas practising at 1020 Oconomowoc Parkway.

The bite matters more than most patients realise, and it is harder to assess than it looks. Teeth do not meet all at once or with equal force. Some contact fractionally earlier than others, and some take considerably more load. Small discrepancies that are imperceptible to the patient can concentrate pressure onto one or two teeth repeatedly, thousands of times a day.

The traditional method of checking this is articulating paper — coloured paper bitten between the teeth that leaves marks where contact occurs. It is useful, but limited: it shows where teeth touch, not how hard, and not in what order.

Tekscan® records all three. The patient bites on a thin sensor, and the system registers which teeth make contact, the force at each point, and the sequence in which contacts happen as the jaw closes. The result is displayed visually on screen, showing where pressure concentrates and how it is distributed across the arch.

The practical application is in restorative work. A crown, bridge or denture that sits even slightly high takes more force than it was designed for — which is why a new restoration can feel wrong, become sensitive, or fail earlier than it should. Checking with Tekscan bite analysis in Oconomowoc, WI before and after placement means the restoration can be adjusted until the load is distributed properly.

The same applies to Invisalign®. Moving teeth changes how they meet, and verifying the resulting bite is part of finishing treatment properly rather than simply reaching the planned alignment.

There is a diagnostic use too. Uneven bite force is one contributing factor in jaw joint problems, and the practice uses Tekscan alongside TMJ Scan and Joint Vibration Analysis when assessing patients with jaw pain, clicking or restricted movement — giving objective data on both the joint and the bite loading it.

Tekscan sits within the practice’s wider diagnostic set, which also includes digital X-rays, DIAGNOdent™ laser cavity detection and an intraoral camera, supporting general, restorative and cosmetic dentistry.

Recognised as a Top Dentist by MKE Lifestyle magazine, Expert Smile Designs sees patients from across Waukesha County’s Lake Country, including Delafield, Hartland, Dousman and Watertown.

To ask about Tekscan bite analysis in Oconomowoc, WI, call 262-567-8386. Expert Smile Designs, 1020 Oconomowoc Parkway, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin 53066.