An evaluation of functional occlusal interferences in orthodontically treated and untreated subjects

Centric occlusion-generated functional bite registrations failed to show a difference in the number, location or severity of nonworking (balancing) or protrusive functional occlusion contacts between 49 post-orthodontically treated subjects and 27 non-orthodontically treated subjects with ideal static occlusion. Nonworking (balancing) side functional occlusion contacts were present in 85% of the non-orthodontic subjects and 97% of the post-orthodontic subjects. At least within the parameters of this investigation, the lateral and protrusive occlusions of post-orthodontic subjects and comparable non-orthodontic subjects were equivalent. It is important to note that this is a study of incidence. It does not address the meaning or importance of such contacts.