Dentistry understands dynamic occlusion as the contacts of the teeth that result from a movement of the lower jaw. Dentists diagnose normative or deviant dynamic occlusion using a special film that takes the impression of the teeth. Disorders of dynamic occlusion can cause discomfort that may spread to the entire body, making it difficult for patients to locate the actual cause of their discomfort.
What is dynamic occlusion?
Dynamic occlusion describes a specific type of tooth contact. It involves the teeth of the upper jaw touching the teeth of the lower jaw. Dynamic occlusion describes a specific type of tooth contact. The teeth of the upper jaw touch the teeth of the lower jaw. In the counterpart of dynamic occlusion, static occlusion, this tooth contact is due to the natural position of the jaw at rest. In contrast, dynamic occlusion is preceded by a movement of the mandible. It therefore does not represent a permanent condition, but describes a temporary phenomenon. In the past, dentistry understood occlusion exclusively as the jaw position in the final bite position; nowadays, however, the term is understood more generally by experts. The final bite position or maximum intercuspidation is that jaw position in which most of the teeth of the upper and lower jaws are in contact.
Function and task
Dynamic occlusion is of great importance in order for the jaw and teeth to function without interference. The places where the teeth of the upper jaw touch the teeth of the lower jaw are called occlusion points in dentistry. Their number can differ between different individuals, as can their exact position: not every set of teeth has the same occlusion points, without this necessarily being a fundamental disorder. A special occlusal foil helps in the diagnosis of occlusion. Other names are test foil, articulation paper and contact foil. Manufacturers coat the thin occlusion foil with color particles to make the results of the bite more visible. The diagnostician places the foil between the upper and lower jaws in the patient’s dentition and asks the patient to bite as usual. The occlusal foil holds the impression of the teeth like carbon paper, making the occlusal points visible. There is disagreement within dentistry and dental technology about what the optimum occlusion should look like. For example, experts hold different opinions about how many occlusion points are optimal in dynamic occlusion. The opposite of occlusion is nonocclusion, which is a malfunction of the jaw. Misalignment of the teeth or jaw can cause nonocclusion, as can disturbances in jaw movement in dynamic occlusion. Dentistry requires the occlusion diagnostics described above in order to detect and correctly treat complaints. Furthermore, the exact examination results play a role for dental technicians who can, for example, fabricate a prosthesis on the basis of these data. Modern software uses the results of diagnostics to create a virtual model, which is also based on exemplary tooth models, known in dental jargon as “library teeth. In this way, the software adapts the desired aid or dental prosthesis to the patient’s individual needs and dimensions. In addition, the digital model calculates how static and dynamic occlusion change as a result of the use of the dental prosthesis. Dental technicians thus have the opportunity to model the occlusion points.
Diseases and complaints
Faulty processes associated with dynamic occlusion may lead to increased mechanical stress on the occlusal surfaces of the teeth. As a result, the teeth are under higher or uneven pressure or rub against each other unexpectedly. This can cause damage such as abrasions and cracks. Disorders of dynamic occlusion can also manifest themselves in the form of craniomandibular dysfunction (CMD). Craniomandibular dysfunction is a collective term for various disorders of the temporomandibular joint and jaw muscles. A disturbance of the dynamic occlusion can also cause CMD.CMD potentially causes a variety of complaints that need not be directly related to the jaw. Misalignments of the jaw or occlusal disorders cause subtle adaptations throughout the body. For example, a crooked occlusal plane may cause the jaw muscles to contract awkwardly to avoid painful conditions. This may result in altered head and neck posture, which can lead to slight misalignments in the shoulders and back. In this way, many parts of the body seem to be affected by symptoms whose cause lies solely in disturbed dynamic occlusion. Patients are therefore often unable to classify the symptoms correctly or attribute them to other causes. Symptoms of CMD include pain and tension in the jaw, face, shoulders, neck and back, as well as migraines and other headaches. Furthermore, tinnitus, eye and ear, nose and throat problems can manifest. Even digestive problems, sleep disturbances and general disturbances of the musculoskeletal system can possibly be traced back to CMD. Critics criticize the inadequate training of dentists with regard to craniomandibular dysfunction: the clinical picture is not sufficiently taken into account in medical training. As a result, unnecessary misdiagnoses occur and the actual cause is too often left untreated. CMD allows various treatment options when it occurs as a result of a disturbance in dynamic occlusion. These include orthodontic measures and prostheses. Overall, CMD is common, with an incidence of about 8% in the general population. However, craniomandibular dysfunction results in symptoms requiring treatment in only about 3% of cases.
