Occlusion Glossary

Question 1

anterior guidance

Answer 1

the influence of the contacting surfaces of anterior teeth, limiting mandibular movements

Question 2

anterior open bite

Answer 2

the lack of anterior tooth contact in any occluding position of the posterior teeth

Question 3

articular disc

Answer 3

fibrous extension of the capsule that runs back between the two articular surfaces of the TMJ

Question 4

articulating paper

Answer 4

ink-coated paper strips used to locate and mark occlusal contacts

Question 5

articulator

Answer 5

a mechanical instrument that represents the TMJ and jaws, to which maxillary and mandibular casts may be attached to stimulate some or all mandibular movements

Question 6

bennet angle

Answer 6

the angle formed between the sagittal plane and the average path of the advancing nonworking-side condyle as viewed in the horizontal plane during lateral mandibular movements

Question 7

bruxism

Answer 7

parafunctional grinding of teeth
an oral habit consisting of involuntary rhythmic or spasmodic nonfunctional gnashing or clenching of teeth in other than chewing movements of the mandible which may lead to occlusal trauma

Question 8

centric occlusion

Answer 8

the occlusion of opposing teeth when the mandible is in the centric relation; this may or may not coincide with the maximal intercuspal position

Question 9

central relation

Answer 9

a maxillomandibular relationship, independent of tooth contact in which the condyles articulate in the anterior-superior position against the posterior slopes of the articular eminences

Question 10

centric slide

Answer 10

the movement of the mandible while in centric relation, from the intial occlusal contact into maximal intercuspal position

Question 11

centric stop

Answer 11

opposing cuspal/fossae contacts that maintain the occlusal vertical dimension between teh opposing arches

Question 12

cusp height

Answer 12

the perpendicular distance the tip of the cusp and its base plane

Question 13

cuspless teeth

Answer 13

teeth designed without cusp height

Question 14

deep bite

Answer 14

excessive vertical overlap

Question 15

digastric

Answer 15

one of two suprahyoid muscles that depress the mandible and elevate the hyoid

Question 16

disclusion

Answer 16

the separation of opposing teeth during eccentric movements of the mandible

Question 17

eccentric occlusion

Answer 17

an occlusion other than maximal intercuspal position

Question 18

edge to edge

Answer 18

articulation in which the opposing anterior teeth meet along their incisal edge when the teeth are in maximal intercuspal position

Question 19

facebow

Answer 19

instrument used to record the spatial relationship of the maxillary arch to some anatomic reference point(s) and the transfer this relationship to an articulator
it orientates the dental cast in the same relationship to the opening axis of the articulator;
customarily the anatomic references are the mandibular transverse horizontal axis and one other selected anterior reference point

Question 20

fork

Answer 20

the component of the facebow used to attach the occlusion rim and/or natural teeth to the facebow

Question 21

fremitus

Answer 21

palpable or visible movement of a tooth when subjected to occlusal forces

Question 22

geniohyoid

Answer 22

one of the two suprahyoid muscles that depress the mandible and elevate the hyoid bone

Question 23

gnathology

Answer 23

general term for the study of biology of the masticatory mechanisms and the kinematic recording of the mandibular position
(Stallard-Mccollom and Pankey Mann Schyuyler studied this)

Question 24

hinge movement

Answer 24

rotation around a transverse axis of the condylar poles

Question 25

infraocclusion

Answer 25

malocclusion in which the occluding surfaces of teth are below the normal plane of the occlusion and lacking occlusal contact

Question 26

intercuspal position

Answer 26

the complete intercuspation of the opposing teeth independent of condylar position,
sometimes referred to as the best fit of the teeth regardless of the condylar position

Question 27

lateral pterygoid

Answer 27

muscles that can depress the mandible (open)

unilateral action protrudes a side to side or lateral movement of the jaw

Question 28

malocclusion

Answer 28

any deviation from normal occlusion

Question 29

masseter

Answer 29

muscle that elevates the mandible

Question 30

medial pterygoid

Answer 30

muscle that elevates the mandible, and involved in some lateral movement

Question 31

mutually protected occlusion

Answer 31

the anterior teeth disengage the posterior teeth in all mandibular excursive movements

Question 32

occlusal analysis

Answer 32

a systematic examination of the occlusion with special consideration to the interocclusal relations of mounted casts

Question 33

occlusal harmony

Answer 33

a condition in maximal intercuspation position and eccentric jaw relation in which there are no interceptive or deflective contacts of occluding surfaces

Question 34

occlusal interference

Answer 34

any undesirable occlusal contact

Question 35

posselts envelop

Answer 35

the 3D space circumscribe by mandibular border movements within which all mandibular movement occurs (horizontal, frontal, sagittal)

Question 36

posterior open bite

Answer 36

lack of posterior tooth contact in any occluding position of anterior teeth

Question 37

retrodiscal tissue

Answer 37

posterior portion of the articular disc of the TMJ that is vascular and highly innervated and is a major contributor in pain in TMD

Question 38

retruded contact

Answer 38

contact of a tooth along the retruded path of closure

initial contact of tooth or teeth during closure around a transverse horizontal axis

Question 39

stylohyoid

Answer 39

suprahyoid muscle that initiates swallowing by pulling the hyoid bone posterior superior

Question 40

supraocclusion

Answer 40

malocclusion in which the occluding surfaces if teeth extend beyond the normal occlusal plane

Question 41

temporomandibular joint

Answer 41

joint between the condylar head of the mandible and the mandibular fossa of the temporal bone

Question 42

terminal hinge axis

Answer 42

an imaginary line around which the mandible may rotate within a sagittal plane

Question 43

trigeminal

Answer 43

the manidibular branch of this nerve innervates the muscles of mastication