In dentistry, the term occlusion refers to the relationship of the lower row of teeth to the upper row of teeth during unconstrained jaw closure in intercuspidation (final bite position). The opposite is a malocclusion, a lack of antagonist contact, which is called nonocclusion.
What is occlusion?
In dentistry, the term occlusion refers to the relationship of the lower row of teeth to the upper row of teeth during unconstrained jaw closure in the final bite position. Any tooth contact between the teeth of the upper and lower jaws is called occlusion. It is the occlusion in the final bite. Dentistry defines occlusion as “contact between the teeth of both jaws”. The occlusion impression is taken as an impression of both rows of teeth in the occlusion position (final bite position). Tooth contact without movement of the mandible during the final bite (intercuspidation) is static occlusion. Tooth contact resulting from movement of the mandible is referred to in dentistry as dynamic occlusion.
Function and task
Occlusion is synonymous with normal function of the mandible and maxilla, which guarantees trouble-free sliding movements of the involved, antagonistic posterior teeth. The occlusion concept is closely related to the phenomenon of occlusal disorders that can cause attritions (abrasion) and abrasions (grinding of the tooth surface). According to this model, the interlocking is called occlusion. A prerequisite for normal occlusion is trouble-free cooperation between the masticatory muscles, temporomandibular joint and teeth. The upper and lower jaws must be correctly shaped. Dentists use an occlusal foil to test whether or not normal occlusion is present. To do this, the patient bites on the thin foil, which acts like carbon paper and records the impressions of the teeth on the back. In this way, the dentist can trace where the individual contact points (occlusion points) are located. The occlusal foil is also known as contact foil, test foil or articulation paper. It is coated with dye. When the two rows of teeth meet in the occlusal position, they form an occlusal plane. In the rest position, the teeth do not touch, but gap one to two millimeters apart in static occlusion (intercuspidation). Each tooth of the upper row of teeth does not meet the tooth of the lower row of teeth opposite it, but has contact with two antagonists (teeth) of the lower row of teeth during occlusion, on which the pressure is distributed (dynamic occlusion). In static maximum occlusion, tooth contacts occur without movement of the mandible. Maximum intercuspidation is static occlusion with maximum multipoint contact of teeth of both jaw rows. Habitual occlusion is habitual static occlusion with which actions are habitually repeated. In centric occlusion, occlusion occurs with centric condyle position (joint head of the temporomandibular joint). The dimples and cusps located on the surface of the teeth ensure optimal tooth position. The upper row of teeth is displaced half a tooth width further back because the upper incisors are wider than their counterpart in the lower row of teeth. During the chewing process, the teeth move towards each other in a gliding manner. In this articulation, the canine tooth takes the lead (cuspid guidance). In anterior guidance, dynamic occlusion takes place between the anterior teeth of the upper and lower jaws. Group guidance is a dynamic occlusion of several teeth of the laterotrusion side (working side of the temporomandibular joint). In regular occlusion, the lip closure line and occlusal plane form a straight line. When making a complete denture, the dental technician takes into account the occlusion situation of his patients. Every contact of the individual teeth with each other is reported by the receptors of the root membrane within the tooth root. The denture has a very finely tuned sensor system. The notification of when bite contact is reached and the jaw muscles perform the chewing movement is rapid. The oral mucosa is permeated with nerve endings that detect the size and position of incoming food particles. In the case of disturbed feedback, the teeth do not work evenly, which leads to misalignment. Reflexively, the masticatory muscles try to make contact, which fails due to the disturbed occlusion and causes excessive activity of the jaw muscles.This process results in fatigue of the jaw muscles, which leads to tension in all the structures involved. Disturbed bite contacts have an effect through parafunctions such as teeth grinding and tooth clenching. This can result in grinding facets and tooth neck erosions.
Diseases and complaints
Irregularities in the normal dental occlusion are due to various causes, which may be related to the entire dentition or to individual teeth. Crowns, bridges, fillings that are too high, or extracted teeth that are not replaced can cause occlusal irregularities. Receptors report these malocclusions (interference contacts) to the central nervous system, which is responsible for coordinating the control center. After receiving the malfunction message, the brain forwards the command to the masticatory muscles to bite harder to compensate for the malocclusion. Positional anomalies such as open bite, cross bite or forced bite prevent regular occlusion. Disorders of physiological occlusion can result in quite unpleasant discomfort. The uneven loading of individual teeth causes lasting damage to the entire dental apparatus. The masticatory muscles and the temporomandibular joint are also negatively affected. Toothache, tension of the masticatory muscles and pain in the temporomandibular joint can be the consequences. Not only the temporomandibular joints are affected, but also other body regions such as the head, shoulders, spine and even the knee joints, because temporomandibular joints, teeth and spine can produce uniform clinical pictures. Since regular articulation is no longer given, chewing function can be equally impaired. Dentists eliminate simple causes such as excessively high fillings, gaps between teeth or defective crowns in light interventions. Raised areas are detected by means of occlusal film and eliminated by grinding. Orthodontic procedures, which are performed by oral surgeons on an outpatient or inpatient basis depending on the severity of the procedure, restore regular occlusion in the case of bite abnormalities.
