OCCLUSION

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon the completion of the course, students will be able to:

• Know the concept of occlusion, the types of occlusion found in the physiological dentition and the prevailing theories about the attribution of occlusal schemes to removable and fixed prosthetic restorations.
• Know the occlusal morphology and contacts, the relationships of the posterior and anterior teeth in the position of maximum intercuspation and during the functional movements of the lower jaw.
• Know and apply the techniques of creating/waxing up the occlusal surfaces.
• Know the use of mechanical articulators.

 

The aim of the course is to introduce the students to the basic principles of physiological dental occlusion, to familiarize them with the techniques of functional occlusion waxing so that they are able to use them in the continuation of their training in the construction of prosthetic restorations.

 

SYLLABUS

THEORY
The course is taught theoretically and practically through a cycle of theoretical and laboratory courses. The theory and the laboratory go hand in hand as far as possible, so that students are taught theory and apply it in the lab.

• Basic Lower Jaw Positions: Basic positions of the lower jaw are analyzed, such as the Central Relationship, the Rest position, the Position of Maximum intercuspation and the Position of Central Occlusion. Reference is made to the importance of these positions as construction sites for a prosthetic restoration, or positions of diagnostic value. The extreme positions of the lower jaw in the protrusive and lateral movements are also described.
• Kinesiology of the lower jaw: In this section are analyzed the movements of the lower jaw and condyles in the three planes, horizontal, sagittal and frontal. The movements of the lower jaw, protrusion & lateral (Bennet movement) are analyzed thoroughly.
• Extensive reference to the mechanical analogues of the movements of the lower jaw, the “articulators”.
• Theories of ideal and physiological occlusion – Types of Occlusion.
• Occlusal relationships: The occlusal contacts of the posterior and anterior teeth in the intercuspal position and during the functional movements of the lower jaw are described and analyzed. Extensive reference is made to the occlusive morphology of the posterior teeth. The factors that affect the occlusal morphology of the teeth in a horizontal and vertical plane are thoroughly analyzed. Detailed analysis of the occlusal relations of the anterior and posterior teeth of Class I in static and dynamic occlusion. Occlusal terminology.
• Techniques for the creation of occlusal surfaces. The techniques of Thomás and Payne Linden for the creation of occlusal surfaces in fixed prosthetic work are described and analyzed
  extensively

 

LABORATORY:

In parallel with the theoretical training, the student practices in the laboratory creating the teeth of the dentition in wax.
The laboratory exercises of the course are:
EXERCISE 1. Construction of casts.
EXERCISE 2. Articulators – Mounting the casts on the articulator.
EXERCISE 3. Functional waxing up of an occlusal surface.
EXERCISE 4. Waxing – First maxillary molar.
EXERCISE 5. Waxing – First molar of the lower jaw.
EXERCISE 6. Waxing – Central incisor of the upper jaw.
EXERCISE 7. Waxing – Lateral incisor of the upper jaw.
EXERCISE 8. Waxing – Central and lateral incisor of the lower jaw.
EXERCISE 9. Waxing – Canine upper jaw.
EXERCISE10. Waxing – Canine lower jaw.
EXERCISE 11. Waxing – First premolar of the lower jaw
EXERCISE 12. Waxing – Second molars of the upper and lower jaws.
EXERCISE 13. Final practical laboratory evaluation on the content of exercises 1-12