normal occlusion

occlusion /oc·clu·sion/ (ŏ-kloo´zhun)

1. obstruction.

2. the trapping of a liquid or gas within cavities in a solid or on its surface.

3. the relation of the teeth of both jaws when in functional contact during activity of the mandible.

4. momentary complete closure of some area in the vocal tract, causing the breath to stop and pressure to accumulate.

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abnormal occlusion  malocclusion.

balanced occlusion  occlusion in which the teeth are in harmonious working relation.

centric occlusion  that in the vertical and horizontal position of the mandible in which the cusps of the mandibular and maxillary teeth interdigitate maximally.

coronary occlusion  complete obstruction of an artery of the heart.

eccentric occlusion  occlusion of the teeth when the lower jaw has moved from the centric position.

habitual occlusion  the consistent relationship of the teeth in the maxilla to those of the mandible when the teeth in both jaws are brought into maximum contact.

lateral occlusion  occlusion of the teeth when the lower jaw is moved to the right or left of centric occlusion.

lingual occlusion  malocclusion in which the tooth is lingual to the line of the normal dental arch.

mesial occlusion  the position of a lower tooth when it is mesial to its opposite number in the maxilla.

normal occlusion  the contact of the upper and lower teeth in the centric relationship.

protrusive occlusion  anteroclusion.

retrusive occlusion  distoclusion.

venous occlusion  the blocking of venous return.

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normal occlusion

n.

The normal arrangement of teeth and their supporting structures that approaches an ideal or standard arrangement.

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occlusion,

n 1. the act of closure or state of being closed.
n 2. a contact between the incising or masticating surfaces of the maxillary and mandibular teeth.

occlusion, acentric,

n See occlusion, eccentric.

occlusion, adjustment,

n See adjustment occlusion.

occlusion, anatomic,

n the ideal relation of the mandibular and maxillary teeth when closed.

occlusion, anterior determinants of cusp,

n.pl the characteristics of the anterior teeth, i.e., occlusion, alignment, overlaps, and capacity to disclude conjointly with the trajectories given the condyles, that determine the cusp elevations and the fossa depressions of the postcanine teeth.

occlusion, attritional,

n an occlusion in which each tooth of the dentition wears occlusally and proximally as it erupts.

occlusion, balanced,

n 1. an occlusion of the teeth that presents a harmonious relation of the occluding surfaces in centric and eccentric positions within the functional range of mandibular positions and tooth size.
n 2. the simultaneous contacting of the maxillary and mandibular teeth on both sides and in the anterior and posterior occlusal areas of the jaws. This occlusion is developed to prevent a tipping or rotating of the denture base in relation to the supporting structures. This term is used primarily in connection with the oral cavity, but it may be used in relation to teeth on an articulator.

occlusion, bilateral balanced,

n the closure suitable for worn dentitions that are cuspless or have flat-sided cusps; it permits an increase of the amount of surface contact in centric closure and provides as much closure contact as possible for horizontal chewing. This kind of occlusion is a therapeutic form designed to keep dentures seated when fine-textured foods are chewed horizontally. It is not found in young, unworn natural dentitions.

occlusion, canine protected,

n the lateral mandibular movements guided by the canine teeth.

occlusion, central,

n See occlusion, centric.

occlusion, centric,

n the relation of opposing occlusal surfaces that provides the maximum planned contact and/or intercuspation. It should exist when the mandible is in centric relation to the maxilla. Also called
central occlusion.

occlusion, centrically balanced,

n a centrically related centric occlusion in which the teeth close with even pressures on both sides of the oral cavity but have no occlusion of the postcanine teeth in attempted eccentric closures.

occlusion, components of,

n.pl the various factors involved in occlusion (e.g., temporomandibular joint, associated neuromusculature, and teeth). In denture prosthetics, also the denture-supporting structures.

occlusion, convenience,

n the assumed position of maximum intercuspation when there is occlusal interference in the centric path of closure. The convenience occlusion may be anterior, lateral, or anterolateral to the true centric occlusion. Also called
convenience jaw relation and
convenience relationship of teeth.

occlusion, coronary,

n a coronary thrombosis resulting in closure of the coronary artery. See also thrombosis, coronary.

occlusion, cross-bite,

n an occlusion in which the mandibular teeth overlap the maxillary teeth.

occlusion, determinants of,

n.pl the classifiable factors in the gnathic organ that influence occlusion. These factors are divided into two groups: those that are fixed and those that can be modified by reshaping or repositioning the teeth. The fixed factors most mentioned are the intercondylar distance; anatomy, which influences the paths of the mandibular axes; mandibular centricity; and the mating of the jaws. The changeable factors most mentioned are tooth shape, tooth position, vertical dimension, height of cusps, and depth of fossae.

occlusion, eccentric,

n any occlusion other than centric occlusion.

occlusion, edge-to-edge,

n an occlusion in which the anterior teeth of both jaws meet along their incisal edges when the teeth are in centric occlusion.

occlusion, end-to-end,

n See occlusion, edge-to-edge.

occlusion, faulty centric,

n a condition in which centric occlusion does not correspond to a patient's centric jaw relationship, resulting in premature or interceptive or deflective tooth contacts in the centric path of closure.

occlusion, functional,

n 1. an occlusion in which attention is directed specifically to performance and is differentiated from structure and appearance.
n 2. any tooth contacts made within the functional range (according to the size) of the opposing tooth surfaces. An occlusion that occurs during function.

occlusion, gliding,

n used in the sense of designating contacts of teeth in motion. A substitute for the term articulation.

occlusion, ideal,

n 1. the relationship existing when all the teeth are perfectly placed in the arches of jaws and have a normal anatomic relationship to each other. When the teeth are brought into contact, the cusp-fossa relationship is considered the most perfect anatomic relationship that can be attained.
n 2. the normal relationships of the inclines of the cusps of opposing teeth to each other in occlusion, when the alignment, proximal contacts, and axial positions of the teeth in both arches have resulted from normal growth and development in relation to all associated tissues and parts of the head.

occlusion, lateral,

n right or left lateral movement of the mandible until the canines on the respective sides are in a cusp-to-cusp relationship. See also cross-bite.

occlusion, locked,

n an occlusal relationship of such nature that lateral and protrusive mandibular movements are limited.

occlusion, malfunctional,

n a disturbance in the normal or proper action of the masticatory apparatus produced by such factors as missing teeth or tilting and drifting of teeth.

occlusion, mechanically balanced,

n an occlusion balanced without reference to physiologic considerations (e.g., on an articulator).

occlusion, normal,

n See occlusion, ideal.

occlusion, pathogenic,

n an occlusal relationship capable of producing pathologic changes in the teeth, supporting tissues, and/or other components of the stomatognathic system.

occlusion, physiologic,

n an occlusion in harmony with functions of the masticatory system and presents no pathologic manifestation in the supporting structures of the teeth; the stresses placed on the teeth are dissipated normally, with a balance existing between the stresses and adaptive capacity of the supporting tissues.

occlusion, physiologically balanced,

n a balanced occlusion in harmony with the temporomandibular joints and the neuromuscular system. See also occlusion, balanced.

occlusion, plane of,

n See plane, occlusal.

occlusion, protrusive,

n an occlusion of the teeth existing when the mandible is protruded forward from a centric position. See also position, rest, physiologic.

occlusion, rim,

n See rim, occlusion.

occlusion, spherical form of,

n an arrangement of teeth that places their occlusal surfaces on the surface of an imaginary sphere (usually 8 inches [20 cm] in diameter) with its center above the level of the teeth, as suggested by Monson.

occlusion, static,

n See occlusion, ideal.

occlusion table,

n See table, occlusal.

occlusion, terminal,

n the relation of opposing occlusal surfaces that provides the maximum natural or planned contact and/or intercuspation.

occlusion, traumatic,

n an occlusion that results in overstrain and injury to teeth, periodontal tissues, or the residual ridge or other oral structures.

occlusion, traumatogenic,

n See occlusion, traumatic.

occlusion, working,

n the occlusal contacts of teeth on the side toward which the mandible is moved. From the mesial or distal view, the buccal and lingual cusps of the maxillary teeth appear to be end-to-end with the buccal and lingual cusps of the lower teeth, respectively. Viewed from the lateral, each maxillary cusp is distal to the corresponding lower cusp. The mesial incline of each maxillary cusp makes contact with the distal incline of the opposing cusp in front of it, and the distal incline of each upper cusp makes contact with the mesial incline of the opposing cusp distal to it.