Restoring a collapsed bite can completely change the way a smile looks, feels, and functions.

In this case, Dr. Chris Nelson walks through the process of restoring severely worn lower teeth and rebuilding lost vertical dimension — sometimes called a “collapsed bite.” The patient had a special connection to Nelson Family Dental: years earlier, Dr. Nelson’s grandfather had completed crown and bridge treatment on her upper teeth, and decades later she returned for help with the lower teeth that had worn down over time.

After a comprehensive exam at Nelson Family Dental in Redding, CA — including photos, 3D scans, X-rays, and a detailed consultation — the original question was whether the lower teeth would need crown lengthening to make them restorable. With input from Dr. Liska and Team Perio, Dr. Nelson explored a more conservative option: using a diagnostic wax-up and smile design to test whether the bite could be rebuilt by adding to the teeth rather than surgically moving the gumline.

The final plan used adhesive dentistry and carefully guided tooth preparation to restore the lower teeth with as little removal of healthy tooth structure as possible. By lengthening the worn lower teeth and improving the bite relationship, the treatment helped restore function, support the smile, and reduce the collapsed appearance that can develop when vertical dimension is lost.

This case is a great example of modern restorative dentistry in Redding, CA — combining thoughtful planning, conservative techniques, dental photography, 3D scanning, and collaboration with local specialists to create a result that looks natural and works well for the patient.