[The occlusal contact mode during lateral excursion].

Area of Science:

• Dental Occlusion
• Biomechanics of Mastication
• Functional Morphology

Context:

• Understanding occlusal contact modes is crucial for diagnosing and treating occlusal disharmonies.
• Group function occlusion describes a canine-protected articulation where canines guide the mandible during lateral excursions.
• Previous research has focused on canine guidance, with less emphasis on molar contacts during lateral movements in group function.

Purpose:

• To elucidate the specific occlusal contact patterns between maxillary and mandibular molars on the working side during lateral excursion within a group function occlusion.
• To analyze the distribution and nature of occlusal contacts at the intercuspal position and during lateral movements.

Summary:

• Occlusal contact relations were recorded using black silicone at the intercuspal position (IP) and two lateral positions (L1, L2) on the Gothic arch.
• Digital and computer-processed image analysis revealed that while the number of contacts and visualized occlusal area generally decrease towards L2, functional cusps are critical at IP.
• Occlusal contact points were identified on functional cusps, sliding onto antagonistic non-functional cusps during lateral excursions, with 2-6 contact points per molar near functional cusps at IP.

Impact:

• Provides a detailed understanding of molar interactions during lateral mandibular movements in group function occlusion.
• Offers insights for clinicians regarding the role of molar contacts in functional occlusion and potential areas for occlusal adjustments.
• Contributes to the biomechanical understanding of masticatory forces and their distribution across molar surfaces.