Maximum intercuspation

Abstract: Statement Of Problem. Understanding is needed regarding the effect that occlusal interferences have on the teeth, periodontium, and especially on jaw function. Purpose. This article summarizes research in which experimental occlusal interferences have been placed on the teeth of animals and human volunteers. Material And Methods. Data from 18 human and 10 animals studies were reviewed. Experimental occlusal interferences were grouped into those that alter intercuspal position and those contacting on lateral jaw movement only. The outcome of these interferences were analyzed according to their local pulpal-periodontal, jaw function, or bruxism effects. Results. Experimental occlusal interferences in maximum intercuspation had a deleterious effect on periodontal and pulpal tissues of the affected tooth; sometimes this produces a disruption of smooth jaw function and occasionally jaw muscle pain and clicking. Experimental occlusal interferences that contact only in a lateral jaw movement are infrequently harmful to jaw function. Furthermore, no reliable evidence demonstrates that occlusal interferences can cause nocturnal bruxism, or stop it. Conclusion. Transient local tooth pain, loosening of the tooth, a slight change in postural muscle tension levels, chewing stroke patterns, and sometimes a clicking joint can be induced by an experimental occlusal interference. Because such findings are present in relatively asymptomatic patients, these data do not prove that occlusal interferences are causally related to a chronic jaw muscle pain or temporomandibular joint dysfunction problems. (J Prosthet Dent 1999;82:704-13.)

Abstract: T he masticatory system, which includes the maxillae, the mandible, the teeth, the temporomandibular joints (TM J), and all associated muscles, is directly related to the cervical spine. The neuromuscular influence of the cervical and masricatory regions actively participate in the functions of mandibular movement and cervical positioning.‘-4 Mandibular movement is dictated by the neuromuscular control of the masticatory muscles until initial tooth contact occurs. The tooth inclines then guide the jaw into the maximum intercuspal position.5 Normal mandibular closure from rest position to maximum intercuspation (postural movement) is an anterior and vertical movement.6 The purpose of this study is to document the effects of various cervical postures on the anterior and vertical components of mandibular movement.

Abstract: The importance of occlusion as an etiologic factor in signs and symptoms of TMD has been a source of controversy. Very few studies have examined occlusion-dictated condylar position using instrumentation, and none has compared an ideal sample against an untreated control. The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a relationship between condylar axis position as determined by the occlusion and signs and symptoms of TMD, using the condylar position indicator (CPI). A sample of subjects with ideal occlusions, defined as centric relation approximating centric occlusion, was compared with a control sample of untreated subjects. The comparison was based on written patient histories, clinical exams, and CPI measurements. The ideal sample of 30 subjects was selected from a population that had undergone full-mouth reconstruction using gnathologic principles that included centric relation (CR) being coincident with centric occlusion (CO). The control group consisted of 30 untreated subjects from the general population and was matched with the ideal sample with regard to sex. A duplicate written exam was given to the subjects in the ideal sample to assess symptoms prior to treatment. The CR bite registration technique developed by Roth was used. When the pre- and posttreatment examination scores of the ideal sample were compared, an 84% reduction in symptoms was found after treatment. A high correlation (p<.001) between signs and symptoms of TMD and CPI values was documented. Since condylar axis position is dictated upon closure of the dentition into maximum intercuspation and since condylar axis position was shown in this study to be strongly correlated with TMD symptomatology, it can be concluded that a statistically significant relationship exists between occlusion-dictated condylar position and symptoms of TMD.

Abstract: Simulations based on finite element analysis (FEA) have attracted increasing interest in dentistry and dental anthropology for evaluating the stress and strain distribution in teeth under occlusal loading conditions. Nonetheless, FEA is usually applied without considering changes in contacts between antagonistic teeth during the occlusal power stroke. In this contribution we show how occlusal information can be used to investigate the stress distribution with 3D FEA in lower first molars (M1). The antagonistic crowns M1 and P2–M1 of two dried modern human skulls were scanned by μCT in maximum intercuspation (centric occlusion) contact. A virtual analysis of the occlusal power stroke between M1 and P2–M1 was carried out in the Occlusal Fingerprint Analyser (OFA) software, and the occlusal trajectory path was recorded, while contact areas per time-step were visualized and quantified. Stress distribution of the M1 in selected occlusal stages were analyzed in strand7, considering occlusal information taken from OFA results for individual loading direction and loading area. Our FEA results show that the stress pattern changes considerably during the power stroke, suggesting that wear facets have a crucial influence on the distribution of stress on the whole tooth. Grooves and fissures on the occlusal surface are seen as critical locations, as tensile stresses are concentrated at these features. Properly accounting for the power stroke kinematics of occluding teeth results in quite different results (less tensile stresses in the crown) than usual loading scenarios based on parallel forces to the long axis of the tooth. This leads to the conclusion that functional studies considering kinematics of teeth are important to understand biomechanics and interpret morphological adaptation of teeth.