OCCLUSION

Dental Anatomy
Dent 201
Summer semester
2005/2006
Occlusion
Definition
 The act of closure or being closed
 A static morphological tooth contact relationship
 Includes all factors concerned with the development
and stability of the masticatory system and the use of
teeth in oral motor behavior
 Includes the integrated system of functional units
involving teeth, joints and muscles of the head and neck
 Concepts of occlusion
Balanced occlusion
 Bilateral contacts in all functional excursions
 Prevent tipping of the denture bases
 Not necessarily existing in natural dentition because
each tooth is a separate unit
Intercuspal position
Centric occlusion
Concepts developed in relation to orthodontics,
complete dentures and full mouth rehabilitation
 None are completely applicable to natural dentition
 Overview of primary occlusion
Each tooth occludes with 2 teeth of the opposing jaw
Exceptions
 Mandibular central incisor
 Maxillary second molar
Occlusion is supported and made more efficient after
eruption of first permanent molars
Interdental spacing is important for future sufficiency of
space in permanent teeth
Probability of crowding in permanent teeth is related to the
amount of interdental spacing in primary dentition
 Primary molar relationship
Terminal plane relationship
 Flush
 56% - Class I Angle’s molar
relationship
 44% - Class II Angle’s molar
relationship
 Distal step
 Class II Angle’s molar
relationship
 Mesial step
 A greater probability for Class I
Angle’s molar relationship
 A lesser probability for Class III
Angle’s molar relationship
 Primary molar relationship
Factors influencing the effect of terminal plane
relationship on Angle’s molar relationship
 Differential growth of the jaw
 Forward growth of the mandible
 Sufficient Leeway space to accommodate a mesial shift
of the permanent molars

• Leeway space is the amount of space gained by

the difference in the mesiodistal diameter between
deciduous molars and premolars
Permanent occlusion
Anteroposterior relationship
 Incisors: Class I, II, III
 Canine: Class I, II, III

 Molars: Angle’s Class I, II, III

Faciolingual relationship
 Premolars
 Molars
 Incisal relationship
Class I
Class II
Class III
Overjet
Reverse
  overjet
Overbite
 Canine relationship
Class I
Class II
Class III
Molar Occlusal relationship

Angle’s Class I
Angle’s Class II
Angle’s Class III
 Arch
Occlusal
relationship
Curves of occlusion
Curve of Spee
Curve of Wilson
Sphere of Monson
 Inclination & angulation of the roots
of the teeth
Mandibular
arch is wider
than maxillary
arch
Each tooth
must be placed
at the angle
that best
withstands the
Antagonists
With the exception of mandibular incisors
and maxillary third molars, each tooth
contacts two antagonist teeth in the
opposing arch
Loss of one tooth keeps the adjacent tooth
in contact with opposing antagonist
Mesial or distal drifting into the space
disturbs occlusal contact with antagonist
teeth
Centric stops
Lingual cusp tips of maxillary posterior make contact with
opposing fossae and marginal ridges of mandibular
posterior teeth
Buccal cusp tips of mandibular posterior make contact
with opposing fossae and marginal ridges of maxillary
posterior teeth
Lingual cusps of maxillary posterior teeth and buccal
cusps of mandibular posterior teeth are called “supporting
cusps”
Areas of occlusal contact that a supporting cusp make
with opposing teeth in centric occlusion are “centric
stops”
The tip of that cusp is also a centric stop
Knowledge of centric stops are important in restorative
dentistry
Movements away from centric
occlusion
Lateral
 Working side
 Non-working side
 In complete dentures
 Balancing side
 Non-balancing side
 Movement in TMJ
 Tooth guidance
 Group function
 Canine guidance
Protrusive
 Incisal guidance
Retrusive
 The most retrusive position
is the centric occlusion in
complete dentures