[Preventive prosthetics and gnathology]

In daily practice the dentist is constantly confronted with dentitions which do not measure up to the (idealized) parameters of a theoretically ideal occlusion. In many cases there is a healthy situation which should be maintained. Changes to the occlusion and/or prosthetic treatment should only take place if they are predicted, beforehand to contribute to solving relevant problems. Clinical application of preventive measures in relation to the function of the masticatory system as well as prosthetic treatment are discussed.