Abstract
In prosthodontics, the discussion in recent years has been as to whether the occlusal position would be made to agree with what part of the jaw. It still remains controversial whether the occlusal position at the terminal hinge inter-occlusal position (to be referred to as t. h. i. o. p. in the following) is functional or will be subjected to changes, the problem requiring a further elucidation.
In the present study, therefore, the author was concerned with 4 subjects selected from those employed at Nihon University School of Dentistry, consisting of 3 males and 1 female samples who volunteered for the study, who were diagnosed as having the normal dental arch clinically, having the definite normal occlusal position (to be referred to as i. o. p.) and, further, who were found to have no abnormal findings in the oral cavity. With these carefully selected subjects, analytical observations were made as to the number of occlusal points, occlusal point surface and food masticating efficiency (rice grains) between i. o. p. before the occlusal adjustment and t. h. i. o. p. after the occlusal treatment. The data of observations were carefully compared and analyzed.
As a result of the study, the author arrived at the following conclusions:
1. Although there were observed some changes in the occlusal point in terms of t. h. i. o. p., there was seen no functional disturbance whatsoever as to the food masticatory efficiency.
2. For this reason, it may be concluded that the use of the above jaw position in prosthodontics has been academically confirmed.
