Abstract
In powerful grinding movements of the mandible like bruxism, disocclusion of the posterior teeth is important to prevent the hyperbalance of masticatory muscle activity. Although disocclusion is established on the articulator, the cusp contacts of posterior molars in the mouth is sometime recog-nized due to retrusive condylar movement on the laterotrusive side. We have investigated the relationship between the inclination of the occlusal plane, posterior disocclusion during retrusive condylar movement, and the degree of the curve of Spee. Results have indicated that increasing the inclination of the occlusal plane provides posterior interference during protrusive mandibular movement, while posterior disocclusion is obtained during retrusive movement. Accentuation of the curve of Spec provides elimination of posterior contact during retrusive condylar movements.
