"Throughout 15+ years of practice, I've encountered a recurring frustration when dealing with dental complications. Ask any dentist and they'll tell you: occlusion has long been an elusive bane. Even minor changes to your occlusion can have troublesome repercussions if they're beyond the adaptive capacity of your stomatognathic anatomy.
After routine dental procedures we check and adjust your bite, but we're limited to subjective feedback from both patient AND doctor unless we have the ability to measure malocclusion.
Debilitating head and neck muscle tension (i.e., 'hypertonia'), eye strain, ear troubles, and nerve pain often go unrecognized as manifestations of malocclusion. But symptoms like cold sensitivity, clenching, grinding, chipped teeth, broken crowns, dislodged fillings, loose implants, and limited range of motion are very common findings in every dental office, every single day.
Such irritations are especially frustrating after cosmetic procedures. For a smile design makeover, you'll spend as much on your mouth as you would on a luxury vehicle or a kitchen renovation. The end result should not only LOOK great, it should also FUNCTION well. Occlusion takes center stage when considering the balance, harmony, and function of your bite, muscles, and TMJs.
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After I got my veneers, I was instructed to wear a night guard. And after braces, there was a retainer. What do they have in common? They're each a piece of plastic worn over teeth, just like a TMD orthotic. If you've ever wondered how a TMD orthotic differs from a night guard or retainer, the answer has to do with INTENT and PURPOSE. But it's not unreasonable to be confused because they actually *can be* (and indeed sometimes *are*) more similar than you may have been told.
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During my training in full-mouth cosmetic reconstructions, my primary concern was disrupting the bite and how that might adversely affect the TMJs. So I vowed to learn as much as I could about occlusion. My path took me through a post-grad continuum where the instructors were using a bite-force sensor called T-SCAN. Upon completion of Clinical Mastery Series (c.2016-17), I decided to add it as an adjunct to document the final finished bite for full-mouth cases.
T-SCAN has a steep learning curve. It seemed simple at first but I wanted to learn how to use it for more complex cases. After further training merited DTR certification (c.2018), occlusion revealed itself to be inseparable from the world of TMD. Ironically and despite my reluctance to position myself as a 'TMJ dentist', my path led from cosmetic dentistry to occlusion and its inevitable end, TMD.
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From this standpoint, I look forward to each and every opportunity to help qualified candidates through the computer-guided bite calibration process known as DTR THERAPY, which begins and ends with objective measurements and can bring life-changing relief from TMD symptoms via conservative dental treatment. Likewise, by the very nature of occlusion, to deliver beautiful cosmetic dentistry in balance and harmony with orofacial muscle function and temporomandibular joint health."
A native Houstonian and second-generation dentist,
Dr. Harden earned his D.D.S. from the University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston, class of 2008. With a professional focus on quality, he provides compassionate, detail-driven, no-nonsense care for patients from West University, the Museum District, Bellaire, Upper Kirby, River Oaks, Tanglewood, Memorial, and beyond—graciously welcoming all who find his practice while searching for a unique dental perspective.
ELIZABETH HARDEN
Cosmetic Dental Patient Coordinator
Elizabeth joins the practice as a warm and knowledgeable bridge between our cosmetic patients and dental team. She helps as a guide through their journey with care, clarity, and enthusiasm—ensuring every experience feels personal, informed, and inspiring.
