Recent results concerning physiological tooth movement and anterior guidance

Physiological tooth movements during mandibular excursions with and without occlusion have been considered. Using electronic and pantographic techniques, anterior guidance and tooth movements during simulated mastication (without a bolus) were investigated. Investigations in the absence of occlusion showed that elastic deformation of the mandible gave rise to tooth movements. During occlusion three-dimensional tooth movements of up to 60 micro m in each direction occurred. Pantographic measurements of anterior guidance showed that each type of occlusion (balanced occlusion, group function and canine protected occlusion) has its own characteristic. Only canine protected occlusion gave values which corresponded to physiological data.