Comparison of an anatomic versus physiologic method of posterior tooth placement for complete dentures

Many authorities agree that artificial teeth should occupy the same positions as their natural predecessors to minimize interference with muscle function. A survey revealed that 59.2% of dental schools taught students to arrange mandibular posterior teeth over the crest of the ridge. That method was compared with a physiologic method of tooth placement. Fifty subjects, 33 women and 17 men, participated in the study. Arranging the mandibular posterior teeth with the central groove over the crest of the ridge resulted in a mean reduction of 2.72 mm in arch width. In the female subjects, the mean reduction in arch width of 3.06 mm was 56% greater than the mean of 1.96 mm recorded for men.