Oral motor patterns and their relation to oral prostheses

The mechanism of support for oral prostheses varies qualitatively and quantitatively, depending on the type of prosthesis worn. Some prostheses are partially supported by natural teeth, and others rely for their support on the residual tissues, mucosa, alveolar bone. Nondental prosthetic support demonstrates progressive longitudinal changes and poses special problems for the denture wearer. In this review, the masticatory system is considered as a biomechanical interaction of three components: function/dysfunction adaptive responses, and TMJs. It appears that oral behavior is related to all three components, but its role is not completely understood.