STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: A valid system for assessing and classifying functional occlusion has not been established. The prevalence of anterior protected articulation is not known. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to quantify the prevalence of various functional occlusal contact patterns, including anterior protected articulation, among dental students. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Occlusal contacts were examined during lateral excursions from the maximal intercuspal position to the canine-to-canine position in 100 young adults. A combination of 3 common clinical methods was used: a visual examination, articulating paper, and feedback from the participants. RESULTS: Data from 3 classification systems were analyzed: (1) Occlusal contacts on the working side only – canine protected articulation was present in 25% of laterotrusions; anterior protected articulation was present in 18.5% of laterotrusions. Group function was present in 56% of laterotrusions. Other schemes were present in 0.5% of laterotrusions. (2) Contacts on both the working and the nonworking side. (3) Contacts on the working and nonworking side during both right and left laterotrusion. Nonworking side contacts were present in 33% of the participants. Nonworking side interference was present in 1 participant. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of anterior protected articulation found in this study was high enough to allow anterior protected articulation to be considered one of the fundamental working side occlusal contact patterns. More studies will be necessary to confirm this finding.
- MeSH
- Tooth Abrasion classification MeSH
- Tooth Attrition classification MeSH
- Adult MeSH
- Tooth Erosion classification MeSH
- Physical Examination MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Young Adult MeSH
- Cuspid anatomy & histology MeSH
- Dental Restoration, Permanent statistics & numerical data MeSH
- Jaw Relation Record instrumentation MeSH
- Feedback MeSH
- Tooth Loss classification MeSH
- Crowns statistics & numerical data MeSH
- Dental Occlusion, Centric MeSH
- Dental Occlusion, Balanced MeSH
- Dental Occlusion * MeSH
- Check Tag
- Adult MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Young Adult MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
