Considerations when planning occlusal rehabilitation: a review of the literature

As one of the most demanding tasks facing the restorative dentist, planning and executing an occlusal rehabilitation should not be undertaken lightly. The stakes are high and failure is costly. Treatment planning decisions should be undertaken on the basis of scientific evidence, where this is available, or on the basis of documented experience where it is not. This review article identifies the major biological and clinical considerations used when planning an occlusal rehabilitation. These include the indications for reorganising the occlusion, the choice of condylar position and occlusal scheme, the implications of and indications for increasing the vertical dimension, replacing missing teeth and the choice of materials. Finally, the literature surrounding the controversial issue of occlusal rehabilitation as a means to treat temporo-mandibular disorders is also reviewed.