Dental occlusion

Dental occlusion is the contact between upper and lower teeth when the jaws close. Its pattern affects chewing, tooth wear, and how forces pass through the teeth and jaws.

Maxillary arch: The curved arrangement of teeth in the upper jaw. Its shape and tooth positions form the upper half of the occlusal relationship.
Cuspid guidance: A lateral jaw guidance pattern in which the canine teeth guide movement and separate posterior teeth. Canine contact can guide the mandible away from full intercuspation.
Malocclusion: A misalignment of teeth or jaws that produces an abnormal bite relationship. It names occlusion patterns that deviate from accepted functional or positional relationships.
Angle classification: A system that classifies malocclusion by the anteroposterior relationship of the first permanent molars. It sorts bite relationships by a specific molar landmark rather than overall function.
Mastication: The process of chewing food by coordinated jaw movement and tooth action. Occlusion supplies the tooth contacts that help break down food.
Mandibular arch: The curved arrangement of teeth in the lower jaw. Its teeth meet the maxillary arch when the jaws close.
Group function: An occlusal pattern in which several teeth on the working side share contact during a lateral jaw movement. It is an alternative way for teeth to distribute contact during lateral movement.
Orthodontics: The dental specialty that diagnoses and corrects irregularities in tooth position and jaw relationships. Orthodontic treatment changes tooth positions to alter the bite.
Ideal occlusion: A theoretical arrangement of teeth with specified positional and contact relationships. It supplies a reference standard that differs from the wide range of functional occlusions.
Dental erosion: The chemical loss of tooth structure caused by acids without bacterial involvement. It can resemble contact-related wear, but arises from acid rather than tooth-to-tooth contact.

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