When Should You Treat a Patient in Habit Bite?
Sometimes it is necessary to look beyond a tooth-based approach and consider the overall system in which the teeth work.
“Habit Bite”, otherwise known as Maximum Intercuspation, refers to the occlusal position of the mandible in which the cusps of the teeth of both arches fully interpose themselves with the cusps of the teeth of the opposing arch.
“In other words,” says Dr. Racich, “What does the practitioner want to use? What are they comfortable with? What are they good at? And most importantly, are they in harmony with the patient?”
But what is the difference between “Habit Bite” and Centric Relation? Are there times when the dentist should accommodate a Habit Bite and other times when they should not?
Dr. Mike Racich is a General Dentist from Vancouver who teaches courses on occlusion. In this short conversation with John O’Keefe, Director of Knowledge Networks CDA, Dr. Racich explains the difference between Habit Bite and Centric Relation and suggests that, in light of some strong opinion about where a guided mandibular position should be, what is important is to get a consistently reproducible and clinically reliable position when the practitioner needs it.
We hope you find the conversation useful. We welcome your thoughts, questions and/or suggestions about this post and other topics. Leave a comment in the box below or send us your feedback by email.
Until next time!
CDA Oasis Team