Academy
Digital Bite Treatment
The bite is how the upper and lower teeth come into contact with each other—essentially the core focus of an orthodontist's work. Accurately registering the bite has long been a challenge in dentistry. Traditional methods rely on physical materials like wax or silicone to capture the relationship between the dental arches. While these techniques provide valuable data, they come with limitations: potential distortions, material shrinkage, and the need for multiple adjustments.
With the rise of digital technologies, dentistry has entered a new era of precision and efficiency. Digital tools now allow for a more accurate and patient-friendly approach to bite registration, analysis, and correction.
What is Digital Bite Treatment?
Digital bite treatment is an orthodontic approach where every stage of diagnosis and planning is enhanced by modern technology. Instead of relying on traditional impressions and manual measurements of physical models, today's orthodontists use advanced tools like intraoral scanners and CBCT imaging to create comprehensive digital models of the patient’s dentition and skeletal structure.
By integrating digital tools into every step of orthodontic care, digital bite treatment enhances diagnostic precision, ensures greater control over tooth movement, and improves the overall experience for both orthodontists and patients.
Understanding Bite Problems
Incorporating modern bite alignment solutions like clear aligners into an orthodontic practice doesn't apply to all bite issues. While aligners offer precise and predictable tooth movement, their effectiveness depends on case selection. eXceed aligners are specifically designed to address a range of treatable conditions, providing orthodontists with a reliable option for in-office aligner manufacturing.
eXceed aligners are recommended for:
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Treating diastema up to 6.0 mm
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Closing gaps between teeth
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Correcting overcrowding
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Managing teeth rotations
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Expansion of dental arches
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Treating anterior and premolar crossbites
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Space retention in mixed or permanent dentition
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Pre-treatment adjustments before prosthetic interventions
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Passive, active, or double retention strategies
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Correcting orthodontic relapse
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Deep bite correction.
Digital Technology in Bite Diagnosis
T-Scan
T-Scan is a digital tool that helps dentists analyze a patient's bite with greater accuracy than traditional methods like articulating paper. The system uses an ultra-thin sensor that the patient bites down on, recording real-time data on how their teeth come together. This data is then displayed as 2D and 3D images, showing which teeth make contact first, the distribution of force across the bite, and any areas of excessive pressure.
While T-Scan can be useful in orthodontics—helping to assess occlusion before, during, and after bite treatment—it was originally designed for prosthetic and restorative dentistry. It's primarily used to analyze bite force distribution in patients with dental fillings, crowns, bridges, and implants. In orthodontic treatment, its role is more supplementary, providing additional insights on the bite forces rather than serving as a primary diagnostic tool. Additionally, T-Scan remains a specialized system that not all clinics have access to.
3D Model Analysis & Occlusogram
T-Scan is useful for measuring bite force and contact points, but it doesn't provide a full visual of the occlusal surface. It shows where the teeth touch and how much pressure is applied, but it doesn't display tooth shape or alignment—key factors in orthodontic planning.
For a more complete analysis, orthodontists use tools like eXceed. It's a web-based platform designed for in-office clear aligner treatment. When a patient’s 3D model is uploaded, eXceed also creates an occlusogram—a heat map that shows bite force distribution and highlights potential risks. This helps orthodontists spot premature contacts, asymmetries, and functional issues that could affect treatment results.
While eXceed offers a powerful tool for digital occlusion analysis, its primary purpose is to support aligner design for in-office manufacturing. By integrating occlusal data into the digital treatment planning process, orthodontists can ensure precise aligner fit and optimize bite correction, leading to more efficient treatment and long-term stability.
Digital Treatment Planning
Modern bite alignment is built on digital tools that improve accuracy and efficiency. When planning orthodontic treatment with clear aligners, orthodontists rely on several key technologies to create a comprehensive plan.
Intraoral Scanning
Intraoral scanners replace traditional impressions by capturing a detailed 3D model of the patient's teeth and soft tissues. This method is faster, more comfortable, and reduces errors associated with physical molds. The scan provides an accurate starting point for orthodontic treatment planning.
Photography
High-resolution clinical photographs document the patient’s smile, facial symmetry, and occlusion from multiple angles. These images help orthodontists analyze aesthetic and functional aspects of the bite and communicate expected treatment outcomes to the patient.
CBCT (Cone Beam Computed Tomography)
CBCT scans offer a three-dimensional view of the patient’s bone structure, cortical plate, tooth roots, and maxillary sinuses. Unlike traditional X-rays, CBCT allows orthodontists to assess jaw position, root inclinations, and hidden anatomical factors that impact bite correction, ensuring a more comprehensive treatment plan.
Digital Smile Design (DSD)
Digital Smile Design is a visual planning tool that integrates facial features with dental aesthetics. Although primarily used in restorative dentistry, DSD can help orthodontists assess how changes in occlusion affect overall smile harmony. It ensures the bite not only functions well but also contributes to an attractive smile.
Virtual Set-Up
A virtual set-up is a digital simulation of tooth movement throughout the aligner treatment. Orthodontists use this tool to test different approaches, visualize occlusal changes, and make precise adjustments before manufacturing aligners. This helps in achieving an ideal bite with minimal refinements.
Aligner Design
Once all data is collected and analyzed, the final step is designing the clear aligners. Digital software maps out incremental tooth movements, ensuring proper occlusion at each stage of treatment. Additionally, orthodontists can plan and place attachments on aligners—small composite shapes bonded to teeth—that enhance control over specific tooth movements. Each attachment serves a unique function, such as improving retention, aiding in extrusion, or facilitating complex shifts.
Modern Solutions for Bite Correction
Clear aligners have transformed orthodontic treatment, offering a more comfortable and aesthetic alternative to braces. Unlike traditional methods, aligners gradually shift teeth using custom-made trays designed through digital planning. This approach allows orthodontists to control every stage of treatment with precision.
One of the key advantages of digital orthodontics is the ability to predict and manage bite corrections more effectively. Platforms like eXceed provide orthodontists with advanced tools for treatment planning. By uploading 3D models, clinicians can analyze the occlusion, assess bite forces, and make necessary adjustments before manufacturing aligners.
eXceed's bite visualization tools help identify premature contacts, occlusal interferences, and potential risk factors that could compromise treatment outcomes. The platform also allows orthodontists to refine virtual setups, ensuring that final tooth positions are in harmony and satisfy the patient's needs. With digital treatment planning, clinicians can optimize the occlusal outcome while reducing the need for mid-course corrections or refinements.
Advantages of Digital Bite Treatment
Predictability
With digital bite correction technology, orthodontists can simulate every stage of tooth movement, ensuring a precise outcome. This allows for better control over the treatment process and minimizes unexpected results.
Visualization
Digital models, occlusal heat maps, and virtual treatment setups provide a detailed view of the patient’s bite. This enhances diagnostic accuracy and allows clinicians to identify potential issues before treatment begins.
Better Communication with Patients
Clear visual representations of the treatment plan help patients understand their bite issues and expected results. This improves patient trust and compliance, leading to smoother treatments.
High Efficiency
Digital workflows improve the process from diagnosis to aligner manufacturing, reducing chair time and minimizing manual errors. Treatment progresses faster, with fewer interruptions or adjustments required.
Easy and Comfortable Process
The digital approach eliminates the need for traditional impressions, making the experience more comfortable for patients. Orthodontists also benefit from a simplified workflow, with easy modifications when necessary.
Less Use of Consumables
By replacing physical impressions and manual adjustments with the orthodontic digital scanning, practices reduce material waste and overall costs. This makes digital treatment more sustainable and cost-effective in the long run.
Easy Access Anywhere
Digital records can be accessed from any location and any device, allowing orthodontists to review cases remotely and collaborate with colleagues when needed. This adds flexibility and convenience to the treatment process.
Cost-Effectiveness
While the initial investment in digital tools may seem high, the long-term savings on materials, adjustments, and chair time make digital bite treatment a smart financial decision for modern orthodontic practices.
Future of Digital Orthodontics
At eXceed, we're committed to integrating AI-driven advancements into our platform, providing orthodontists with more powerful tools for digital treatment planning. However, even now, the digital orthodontics workflow already offers significant benefits. With precise treatment planning, enhanced visualization, and greater control over aligner therapy, orthodontists can optimize their practice today.
