Dental Occlusion: Proposal for a Classification to Guide Occlusal Analysis and Optimize Research Protocols

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Orthodontics
• Dental Occlusion

Background:

• Current dental occlusion classifications are confusing, hindering research and clinical practice.
• A lack of precise diagnostic criteria contributes to chaos in understanding occlusal disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To define a precise classification of occlusal functions.
• To establish objective clinical diagnostic criteria for occlusal disorders.
• To enable standardized epidemiological studies in occlusion.

Main Methods:

• Literature analysis of PubMed from the 1970s to the present.
• Proposed separation of occlusal functions into stabilizing, centering, and guiding subcategories.
• Defined three distinct subcategories of occlusal disorder.

Main Results:

• Identified three types of malocclusion: stabilizing, centering, and guiding dysfunction.
• Clear subcategories facilitate the study of pathogenic malocclusion impacts.
• The classification differentiates frequently confused occlusal situations.

Conclusions:

• The proposed classification aids in distinguishing various occlusal conditions.
• Offers diagnostic standardization for occlusal analysis.
• Relevant for epidemiological studies, TMD research, and orthodontic treatment planning.