There are many situations in modern dentistry that call for impression-taking, from crowns, bridges, and dentures to orthodontic treatment and even TMJ diagnosis.
This is where bite registration comes into play, but what is bite registration in dentistry, exactly? More specifically, what is used for bite registration and how can you streamline it in your practice? You’ve come to the right place. Here at My DDS Supply.
We provide all that you need for efficient, and more importantly, accurate impression-taking. Learn more about our bite registration material and bite registration tray selection today!
What is Bite Registration in Dentistry?
So what is bite registration in dentistry? It’s exactly what it sounds like. This fairly fundamental task visually captures how a patient’s upper and lower teeth come together - so professionals can assess their “bite,” or occlusion as it’s referred to in the industry.
This empowers dentists, orthodontists, and other professionals to create restorations, orthodontic treatments, and occlusal adjustments that align with the patient’s natural bite.
Dentists use specialized materials that harden quickly once placed in the mouth while being flexible enough to record intricate details. It’s an essential first step before fabricating crowns, bridges, dentures, and other prosthetics to ensure they fit comfortably and function properly.
A suboptimal bite registration could lead to misaligned restorations, and in turn, discomfort, uneven pressure distribution, and potential long-term complications such as TMJ issues or excessive wear on natural teeth.
Much of this can be avoided by using the right approach and sourcing premium tools and materials for the task, which is why professionals choose to order from My DDS Supply.
What is Bite Registration Used For?
Now, what is bite registration used for in modern dentistry? We’ve touched on some of the applications but let’s take a deeper dive into the use cases below.
Fabrication of Crowns, Bridges, and Dentures
As we explain in our guide on how to make a temporary crown, bite registration is an essential first step in fabricating provisionals and even permanent restorations. It’s also used for bridges and dentures.
An accurate bite record supports better outcomes. The dental lab can create restorations that fit seamlessly with opposing teeth to avoid frustrating issues like high spots, uneven pressure distribution, or improper jaw alignment.
Any missteps in bite registration will lead to suboptimal outcomes for the patient and costly adjustments for you, the dental professional.
Orthodontic Treatment Planning
Bite registrations are also used by orthodontists to assess the current occlusion, and from there, guide the necessary treatment for moving teeth into the proper alignment.
This use case is quite different from restorative cases where a fixed prosthetic is created, as orthodontics involves ongoing changes. Bite registration records are kept on hand to see how teeth are trending and to gauge treatment success.
The end result is an occlusion that’s balanced, both in terms of aesthetics and function. At least, that’s the goal. Again, inaccurate bite data can lead to wasted time and uncomfortable problems for the patient down the road.
TMJ Diagnosis and Treatment
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, or jaw problems as the patient probably describes them, can often be traced back to occlusal misalignment, bruxism, or joint dysfunction.
So, what is bite registration used for in TMJ diagnosis and treatment? It helps analyze the relationship between the teeth, jaw, and TMJ function. From there, dentists can pinpoint the exact occlusal discrepancies causing the jaw pain, clicking, or locking.
The next steps once a bite is registered could be fabricating a night guard, adjusting bite forces, or designing an occlusal splint. At any rate, proper bite registration sets the stage for successful outcomes.
That’s really the key takeaway from all these use cases. The purpose of bite registration in dentistry is to guide accurate treatment decisions and ensure better outcomes.
In this sense, investing in quality tools and materials for the process is not something professionals should take lightly. So, what is used for bite registration?
What is Used for Bite Registration? Materials and Tools You’ll Need
There are two specific things you’ll need for accurate bite registrations - the material that forms the impression and the tools that support the task. Let’s start with the star of the show, the materials.
Bite Registration Materials
There are many different types of dental impressions material at your fingertips in modern dentistry, but PVS material is the gold standard for bite registrations.
It has excellent dimensional stability and it’s really easy to use, keeping you productive in your practice. It sets really quickly too, so you can get through the task fast and onto the next. That being said, alginate dental impression material is commonly used as well.
The specific material chosen matters, but the quality of that material is even more important. The bite registration material makes or breaks your success in impression-taking, so don’t settle for anything less than the best at My DDS Supply.
We have VPS bite registration materials in both unflavored and mint-flavored options so you can cater to patient preferences and minimize discomfort. You can choose between two varieties:
- Fast Setting: Working time of 30 seconds, setting in 1 minute and 30 seconds.
- Super Fast Setting: Working time of 15 seconds, setting in 1 minute and 10 seconds.
This empowers you to choose based on the procedure at hand and any time constraints. Our blog has additional resources on what is alginate made of, alginate impression errors, mixing alginate, and more - but let’s move onto the other essentials you’ll need.
Bite Registration Tools
How do you actually take the impression of your patient’s mouth? You’ll need to fill a tray with the impression material. This makes it easier to capture an accurate bite. The chosen tray should align with what exactly you’re trying to get an impression of. Trays are available in:
- Full arch
- Posterior
- Anterior
- Quadrants
Here at My DDS Supply we offer all these and more, carefully manufactured from premium materials for durability and patient comfort. But aside from the tray itself, there are a few other things you’ll need.
Dispensing guns and dental mixing tips help facilitate this efficient, consistent mixing of bite registration materials for the most accurate impressions with minimal material waste. This saves time and supports higher precision.
Articulators aren’t always necessary, but in some cases, they can be called on to simulate jaw movements. This helps professionals analyze the occlusion and make necessary adjustments to restorations or appliances before placement.
Some professionals use occlusal indicators to help gauge contact points between teeth too, guaranteeing the bite registration is an accurate representation of the patient’s occlusion. For all your bite registration supplies, look no further than My DDS Supply.
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From dental impression trays to dental putty, temporary crown material, and more, expect nothing but the best when you shop at My DDS Supply. Transform your dental sourcing standards for the better today!
Tips on Streamlining the Bite Registration Process
Once you’re set up with the right materials and tools for the bite registration process follow these tips for better patient outcomes and faster impressions.
Optimizing Patient Positioning
Have your patient sit upright with their head stabilized to minimize movement, as any minor adjustments will impact the impression. Ask them to relax their jaw and then lightly close into the material for a natural occlusion. Biting too hard will alter the outcome.
Make sure you’ve prepared for your patient mentally for the bite registration process, too. Some find it to be very uncomfortable and gagging is a real risk, so work with your patient to keep them at ease from start to finish.
Not only will this play favorably into your reputation as a dental professional in your area but it’ll prevent frustrating and costly retakes.
Choosing the Right Material for the Case
We talked primarily about VPS and alginate as the materials of choice in taking impressions, but there are a few others that might make sense in unique cases as well.
For instance, wax materials can be used for orthodontic and denture cases where flexibility and repositioning are necessary. Meanwhile, we’ve seen zinc oxide-eugenol used for edentulous patients when a firm yet moldable set is needed.
Most of the time, though, the high-precision and easy workability of VPS is going to be your best bet. Always take your time to think about what material will set you up for success prior to starting.
Minimizing Distortion During the Process
One of the most common issues in bite registration is distortion, as it can compromise impression accuracy. There are a few strategies you can use to minimize this risk:
- Apply even pressure when seating the bite registration material.
- Avoid premature removal before the material has fully set.
- Use a rigid tray when needed to prevent flexing that could alter the impression.
- Instruct the patient to remain still and avoid unnecessary movement while the material is curing.
Again, starting with quality impression material will help avoid a lot of the concern surrounding distortion as well, so don’t forget to source yours from My DDS Supply before you leave today.
Verifying Accuracy Before Sending to the Lab
We know you have a lot to do, but taking your time to verify accuracy before sending impressions off to the lab for fabrication can save you the hassle and unnecessary costs of having to retake the impression.
Inspect the record for clear, even occlusal contacts without voids or distortions. Compare it to the patient's occlusion to confirm proper alignment. If you see any discrepancies, it’s best to bite the bullet (pun intended) and retake the impression to avoid complications later on.
Final Words on the Purpose of Bite Registration in Dentistry
So, what is bite registration in dentistry? We hope this guide has left you with clarity on the purpose of bite registration and all that goes into ensuring favorable outcomes for your patients.
Remember that choosing the right types of dental impression trays and materials can make or break your success in bite registration. Not only that, but you need to set yourself up with high-quality supplies. Fortunately, your search ends here at My DDS Supply.
Accuracy starts with the right tools, so invest in the precision you and your patients deserve instead of settling for guesswork in bite registration. Shop now or get in touch for personalized guidance at My DDS Supply!