ORAL PHYSIOLOGY
Figure 2. Masticatory angles on patients with the horizontal masticatory stereotype
intermediary aspects, where the masticatory
angles are symmetric only in 32% of cases and
asymmetric in 68% of cases.
Although the trajectory can vary significantly,
the start and stop positions of the mandible
always match one another. Therefore we
must underline the fact that terminal phase
is guided by the dental articular surfaces,
starting from the first dental contact until the
maximal intercuspation is realized. This position
corresponds to the minimal vertical dimension,
therefore interferences can be palpatorily
detected.
The assessment and comparison of the
values of the two angles provide us with useful
information about how our patients perform
the basic function of the stomatognatic system,
namely mastication.
The data obtained reveal a remarkable
fact, namely that 93% of the cases present
modification of the masticatory function. Figure
1. and 2. show us the differences between the
two masticatory angles on two types of patients,
one with a vertical masticatory stereotype and
the other one with a horizontal masticatory
stereotype.
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Patients present problems, such as: unresolved
dento-maxillar anomalies in their childhood or
adolescence, edentulous without prostheses,
odontal, periodontal and prosthetic defective
treatments (defective reconstruction of dental
morphology), etc. Such problems create at least
partial masticatory insufficiencies which have
long term consequences.
We think that the existence of a large
number of patients with the vertical masticator
stereotype in their young ages is a result of the
eating habits (fast food – hamburgers, which is
not stimulating enough). On the other hand,
some ethnic groups of the Banat population
raise the question of a genetic determinant in
this area.
DISCUSSION
For the neuro-oclusal rehabilitation it is
essential to analyse the functional masticator
angles. This analysis should be done for all
patients because it provides us with most of the
information about their masticatory function.
Planas’s philosophy starts with the mandible
bone development and it is in close correlation
with the dynamics of temporomandibular joint.
STOMA.EDUJ (2014) 1 (2)