Dr. Kami Hoss

    Dr. Kami Hoss on How Modern Dentistry Is Expanding the Definition of Oral Health Dental care has long focused on cavities, gum disease, and routine cleanings. While these areas remain essential, growing research has broadened how clinicians view oral health. Dr. Kami Hoss highlights that modern dentistry now considers factors such as bite alignment, jaw development, and airway structure when evaluating whether a patient’s mouth functions in a balanced way. A healthy smile reflects more than the absence of decay. The position of the teeth, the growth of the jaws, and the way the upper and lower arches meet can influence chewing efficiency, speech, and breathing patterns. These structural details shape how the mouth works as part of the larger body system. Occlusion and Functional Balance Occlusion refers to how the upper and lower teeth contact one another during biting and chewing. When this relationship remains balanced, the forces created during daily fun...