Procedure and result of an occlusal adjustment case

Abstract

The position of the mandible is often discussed within the context of contact of teeth in the opposing dental arches, but the upper and lower teeth normally do not touch to each other except during mastication and swallowing. In other words, at the rest position of the mandible there should be some space between upper and lower teeth; in orthodontic treatment and designing prostheses, therefore, two different mandibular positions, namely, the rest position and the intercuspal position have to be taken into consideration. It is important to check and treat with sufficient attention to the tongue position and the stable relationship between upper and lower teeth. On the articulator, the contact of upper and lower teeth are examined by surface sliding, with fixed condyle; whereas, in human mastication upper and lower teeth come in contact with lateral translation of the mandible. Despite the crucial role of tongue position and movement during mastication, articulators cannot simulate such functions. Intraoral occlusal adjustment is important in occlusal treatment for dentulous jaws.