StomatologyEduJournal1-2015 | Page 50

OCCLUSION Cite this article: Popa ST, Popescu SM, Constantinescu MV. Occlusal equilibration between option and clinical reality. Stoma Edu J. 2015;2(1):57-63 OCCLUSAL EQUILIBRATION BETWEEN OPTION AND CLINICAL REALITY Sever Toma Popa1a, Sanda Mihaela Popescu2b*, Marian-Vladimir Constantinescu3c 1. Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania 2. Oral Rehabilitation Department, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Craiova, Romania 3. Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, Faculty of Dental Medicine, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania a. DDS, PhD, Consultant Professor b. MDM, PhD, Associate Professor c. DDS, PhD, Professor Abstract Occlusal dysfunctions generated by occlusal interferences as part of occlusal pathology actually have growing frequency in oral pathology. Unfortunately because of their insidious appearance, they are unnoticed until injurious effects are observed or the patients experience dental, muscle or temporomandibular joint pains. If occlusal interferences were observed at the beginning of their appearance, occlusal adjustments would rarely be necessary. To practice occlusal equilibration techniques the dentist needs to observe a number of accurate steps by step technical stages. These principles and stages are revealed in the following text. Keywords: occlusal adjustment, occlusal equilibration, dental interferences, centric relation, deflective contacts. Introduction Received: 12 December 2013 Accepted: 16 November 2014 * Corresponding author: Sanda Mihaela Popescu, MDM, PhD Associate Professor, Faculty of Dental Medicine University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova 2-4 Petru Rares Str. RO-200349 Craiova, Dolj, Romania. Tel/Fax: +40251524442. e-mail: [email protected] 50 The mandibular neuromuscular complex has a strong adaptive capacity which allows functioning and protection of the masticatory system (Dawson, 1989, 2006). Deflective occlusal contacts will induce an irritable condition into the neuromuscular system which will be continuously reinforced with each closure through proprioceptive feedback. This conditioned state (engrame) may induce changes at the level of any components of the masticatory system: teeth, muscles, periodontium