[Functional analysis in orthodontics: diagnosis of mandibular positions and movements]

Conventional gnathological concepts concerning border movements, intermaxillary relations and terminal hinge movement of the mandible have been complemented by definitions obtained from observations in children, particularly orthodontic patients. While gnathologists tend to prefer the hand guided technique for diagnostic centric relation to the unguided method, the orthodontists on the other hand do not attribute the necessary importance to the guidance of the mandible into centric relation. By prevention or elimination of occlusal interferences, RCP/IP discrepancies, of balancing and particularly hyperbalance contacts, by possibly creating a type of occlusion as conceived by gnathology, the orthodontist may--within certain limits--be able to prevent TMJ disturbances and/or peridontal disease. Hopefully it may be at the same time possible to obtain more stable results of successful orthodontic treatment. The described functional analysis is designed to invite a more dynamic concept of the masticatory system.