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Dr. Khalid AletaibiConservative Dentistry · Dubai

FUNCTIONAL DENTISTRY

Teeth that work, not just teeth that look.

The way your teeth come together, the forces they absorb, and the way they wear over time, this is where dentistry becomes most consequential and where the smallest mistakes take the longest to reverse.

QUICK ANSWER

Functional dentistry treats the bite as a system: how forces are distributed, how teeth wear, and how the whole mouth works together over decades. The goal is a bite that distributes force evenly, teeth protected from destructive habits, and, when the damage is already advanced, a careful, staged rehabilitation that restores function while preserving as much natural tooth structure as possible.

How I approach this category

Function is easy to overlook in a profession that photographs results. A beautiful smile that causes premature wear, or a restoration that destabilises the bite, is a failure even if it looks perfect. I start every functional case by understanding how the jaw actually moves, where the forces are concentrated, and what the rest of the dentition is doing. Only then does a specific treatment become the right answer. The most common functional problems I see, tooth wear, grinding damage, bite instability, are best addressed by understanding why they happened before deciding how to fix them.

What this category includes

The functional and rehabilitative work that this category covers:

Individual procedure pages with full scientific citations are being published on a rolling basis. In the meantime, the short summaries here describe what each involves, and I'm always happy to explain the details in person.

COMMON QUESTIONS

What patients ask most.

I grind my teeth at night. What can be done?
Bruxism is usually managed with a well-fitted night guard, combined with an investigation of the underlying contributing factors, stress, sleep quality, airway, medications. A night guard protects your teeth from further wear; the full management plan depends on what is driving the grinding in the first place.
My teeth are wearing down. Can that be stopped?
It depends on the cause. Erosion from acid, attrition from grinding, and abrasion from brushing habits each have different management strategies. The first step is to identify and, where possible, control the cause. The second is to protect what remains, sometimes with a night guard, sometimes with conservative restorations, and sometimes with a combination. Early intervention is key: the more tooth structure you preserve now, the simpler your future treatment will be.
What is full mouth rehabilitation?
It is a carefully staged treatment plan that addresses multiple teeth, the bite, and overall function together rather than tooth by tooth. It is indicated when wear, damage, or previous dentistry has progressed to the point where isolated repairs no longer make sense. The aim is to restore a stable, functional bite using the most conservative approach possible at each stage.
How do I know if I need a night guard?
Signs that a night guard may be appropriate include visible tooth wear, chipped or cracked teeth, jaw stiffness or soreness on waking, and a history of broken restorations. I assess these signs during your examination and recommend a guard when the evidence of grinding or clenching is clear, not as a precaution for everyone.
What is 'occlusion' and why do you keep mentioning it?
Occlusion is the way your upper and lower teeth meet. It determines how forces are distributed across every tooth in your mouth, how the jaw joint behaves, and how your restorations age. Getting it right is often the difference between a restoration that lasts decades and one that fails in a few years. Most functional problems in dentistry are occlusion problems.
Is tooth wear just a normal part of ageing?
Some wear is physiological and expected. But rapid, asymmetric, or acid-driven wear is pathological and progressive, it will not slow down on its own. Distinguishing normal wear from pathological wear is a clinical assessment I take seriously, because catching it early means the management can remain conservative.

Concerned about wear, grinding, or your bite?

If something doesn't feel right, teeth wearing down, a sore jaw, a bite that feels unstable, let's take a careful look before it becomes a bigger problem.

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