Dental occlusion is the contact between upper and lower teeth, with static and dynamic occlusion. Proper occlusion is important for dental and overall health. Malocclusion can cause health problems and is classified by the Angle classification method. Treatment includes braces, tooth extraction, and surgery.
Dental occlusion refers to contact between the teeth of the upper jaw, or maxillary teeth, and the teeth of the lower jaw, or mandibular teeth. Static dental occlusion refers to contact between the teeth when the jaw is at rest, and dynamic occlusion occurs when the jaw moves, such as occurs during chewing or chewing. Proper occlusion is important for dental health and overall health.
When the cusps of the mandibular teeth come into full interaction with the cusps of the upper teeth, the occlusal position is called maximum intercuspidation. The cusps of a tooth are the protruding parts at the top of the tooth, as opposed to the central groove at the top of the tooth. The natural position achieved during maximum intercuspidation is called centric occlusion, or habitual bite. This occlusion can also be called the bite of convenience or intercuspidation position (ICP) and, in simple terms, indicates the natural position of the teeth when the teeth bite through. Dental occlusion depends on bone structure, muscles, nerves, tooth structure and sometimes posture.
A correct habitual bite means there is no underbite, overbite or crossing of the teeth. In a young person with an ideal bite, all teeth should be in contact. If that patient moves the jaw to one side, the eye tooth, or lower canine, should slide over the upper canine so that the back or back teeth no longer touch and the lower jaw drops slightly. This is called canine guidance. Anterior guidance in an ideal bite occurs when the person pushes the jaw forward and the lower front teeth slide over the front teeth, so that the back teeth do not touch.
An ideal bite should also have a correct centric relationship, the resting position of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) or jaw joint. This means that the joint ball is centrally located in the socket. The individual positions of the teeth can vary from person to person.
A malocclusion occurs when the teeth and jaws are misaligned in the habitual bite. Although most people have a mild degree of malocclusion and don’t require treatment, this condition can cause health problems in the temporomandibular joint, teeth, jaw muscles, and gums. Malocclusions are normally classified by the Angle classification method, established by Edward Angle, a leading orthodontist of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The classifications are based on the position of the maxillary first molar in relation to the rest of the occlusion.
Class I has normal molar occlusion, but other teeth may have crowding or eruption above or below the expected position. A common example of excessive eruption occurs when the canine tooth pushes through the gum labially above the primary tooth. Class II is commonly known as an overbite, in which the upper teeth are positioned too far forward. Class III includes patients with underbite, in which the mandibular anterior teeth are located in front of the upper anterior teeth. Worn teeth, due to overactive jaw muscles, grinding, and possibly lack of canine guidance, can also cause malocclusion. These conditions can be treated with braces, tooth extraction, and sometimes orthognathic or maxillary surgery.
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