​Your bite plays an important role in the comfort, function, and longevity of your teeth and dental restorations. Dr. Whelen uses T-Scan™ digital occlusal analysis to evaluate how your teeth come together and how forces are distributed throughout your bite. Unlike traditional bite paper, which primarily shows where your teeth make contact, T-Scan provides objective information about the location, timing, and relative force of those contacts. This allows Dr. Whelen to evaluate your bite with a level of precision that traditional methods alone cannot provide.

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During a T-Scan evaluation, a thin digital sensor records your bite as you close and move your teeth. The results are displayed in real time, allowing Dr. Whelen to identify areas of excessive force, premature contacts, and imbalances that may otherwise be difficult to detect. This can be especially valuable for patients who frequently chip or fracture their natural teeth, have a history of cracked teeth, or repeatedly experience porcelain chipping or breaking from older crowns and bridges. Identifying areas of excessive or uneven biting forces can help Dr. Whelen better understand why these problems may be occurring and make more precise adjustments when appropriate.

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A balanced bite can benefit more than just your teeth. When the forces of your bite are distributed appropriately, it can help reduce excessive stress on individual teeth, restorations, dental implants, and the supporting structures around them. Because the jaw, facial muscles, and temporomandibular joints work together as a functional system, an imbalanced bite can sometimes contribute to muscle tension, jaw discomfort, headaches, or other symptoms. While occlusal treatment is not a universal solution for these conditions, evaluating and balancing the bite can be an important part of understanding the contributing factors.

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T-Scan can be particularly useful when a patient's symptoms or clinical findings do not correspond well with what can be seen using traditional bite-marking techniques. By showing when and where forces occur throughout the entire bite sequence, T-Scan gives Dr. Whelen additional information to understand how your teeth are functioning together and identify areas carrying disproportionate force. This objective information can guide conservative, precise adjustments and is especially valuable when completing crowns, veneers, bridges, implants, or full-mouth rehabilitations. The goal is not simply for your teeth to look beautiful, but for them to function comfortably and harmoniously together.

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Most importantly, T-Scan allows you to see your bite rather than simply being told about it. The visual information can make it easier to understand how your teeth are contacting and why an adjustment may be recommended. By combining advanced digital technology with Dr. Whelen's clinical experience, T-Scan provides a more thorough and objective approach to evaluating your bite—with the goal of creating an occlusion that is comfortable, balanced, and supportive of long-term dental health.