Facet pattern in intact and restored dentitions of young adults. A comparative study

The attritional dental pattern was studied clinically and on plaster casts in a group of individuals, 17-22 years old, with intact teeth and in a control group with a 'normal' distribution of dental restorations. The following observations were made: 1) all contact areas between occluding teeth exhibited facets; 2) most facets were located on inclines; 3) facets in the fossa bottom occurred oftenest in the control group and often involved fillings; 4) attritional facets on the distal marginal crest of the lower second molars were oftenest found in the control group; 5) denuded dentin in facets occurred oftenest in the control group; and 6) the number of facets and the worn areas were on an average largest in the control group. The findings in this study indicate a difference in the functional activity between the groups and support the hypothesis that dental fillings can induce changes in the neuromuscular pattern of the masticatory system.