Any tooth contact between the teeth of the upper and lower jaw is called an occlusion. It is the closure in the final bite. Dentistry defines occlusion as “contact between the teeth of both jaws”.

The occlusion impression is taken as an impression of both rows of teeth in the occlusal position (final bite position). Static occlusion occurs when there is tooth contact without movement of the lower jaw during the closing bite (intercuspation). Tooth contact caused by movements of the lower jaw is referred to in dentistry as dynamic occlusion .

function & task

Occlusion is synonymous with a normal function of the mandible and maxilla, which guarantees trouble-free sliding movements of the involved, antagonistic posterior teeth. 

The concept of occlusion is closely related to the phenomenon of occlusion disorders, which can cause attrition (abrasion) and abrasion (abrasion of the tooth surface). According to this model, the toothing is called occlusion. A prerequisite for a normal occlusion is the interference-free cooperation between the masticatory muscles , jaw joint and teeth. The upper and lower jaws must be correctly formed.

Dentists use an occlusion foil to test whether there is normal occlusion or not. To do this, the patient bites on the thin foil, which acts like carbon paper and records the impressions of the teeth on the back. In this way, the dentist can understand where the individual contact points (occlusion points) are located.

The occlusion foil is also known by the terms contact foil, test foil or articulation paper. It is coated with dye. If both rows of teeth meet in the occlusal position, they form an occlusal plane. In the resting position, the teeth do not touch, but gape one to two millimeters apart in the static occlusion (intercuspation). Each tooth of the upper row of teeth does not hit the opposite tooth of the lower row of teeth, but has contact with two antagonists (teeth) of the lower row of teeth during the occlusion, on which the pressure is distributed (dynamic occlusion).

In static maximum occlusion, tooth contacts occur without mandibular movement. The maximum intercuspation is a static occlusion with a maximum multipoint contact of the teeth of both arches. The habitual occlusion is the habitual static occlusion with which actions are habitually repeated. With centric occlusion, closure occurs with the condyle in the centric position (joint head of the temporomandibular joint).

The dimples and bumps on the surface of the teeth ensure optimal tooth position. The upper row of teeth is set back half a tooth width because the upper incisors are wider than their counterparts in the lower row of teeth. During the chewing process , the teeth slide towards each other. With this articulation, the canine takes over the lead ( canine guidance ). In front tooth guidance , a dynamic occlusion takes place between the front teeth of the upper and lower jaw. Group guidance is a dynamic occlusion of multiple teeth on the laterotrusion side (working side of the temporomandibular joint).

With regular occlusion, the lip closure line and the occlusal plane form a straight line. When making a complete denture, the dental technician takes the patient’s occlusal situation into account. Each contact of the individual teeth to each other is reported by the receptors of the periodontium inside the tooth root . The bit has a very finely tuned sensory system . The message when the bite contact is reached and the jaw muscles carry out the chewing movement comes quickly.

The lining of the mouth is lined with nerve endings that sense the size and location of incoming food. In the case of a disturbed feedback, the teeth do not work evenly, which leads to misalignment. The masticatory muscles reflexively try to establish contact, which is unsuccessful due to the disturbed occlusion and causes excessive activity of the jaw muscles. This process leads to fatigue of the jaw muscles, which leads to tension in all structures involved. Disturbed bite contacts have an effect through parafunctions such as teeth grinding and tooth clenching. This can result in grinding facets and tooth neck erosion.

Diseases & Ailments

Irregularities in the normal row of teeth can be traced back to various causes, which can relate to the entire dentition or to individual teeth. Crowns , bridges , fillings that are too high or extracted teeth that are not replaced can lead to occlusal disorders. Receptors report these faulty contacts (interfering contacts) to the central nervous system , which is responsible for coordinating the control center. After receiving the error message, the brain sends the command to the chewing muscles to bite down harder to compensate for the misalignment. 

Positional anomalies such as an open bite, crossbite or forced bite prevent a regular occlusion. Disturbances of the physiological occlusion can lead to quite unpleasant complaints. The uneven load on individual teeth causes lasting damage to the entire dental apparatus. The chewing muscles and the jaw joint are also negatively affected. Toothache , tension in the chewing muscles and pain in the jaw joint can be the consequences.

Not only the temporomandibular joints are affected, but also other body regions such as the head, shoulders , spine and even the knee joints , because the temporomandibular joints, teeth and spine can produce uniform clinical pictures. Since there is no longer a regular articulation, the chewing function can also be impaired.

Dentists eliminate simple causes such as excessive tooth fillings, tooth gaps or damaged crowns in light interventions. Elevated areas are identified using occlusion foil and eliminated by grinding. Orthodontic interventions, which are carried out by oral surgeons on an outpatient or inpatient basis depending on the severity of the intervention, restore a regulated occlusion in the case of bite anomalies.