APPENDIX

XI

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THE GEOMETRYOF OCCLUSION

OF COMPLETEDENTURES

l. T o o c c l u d e i s to l tri n g to g ether < l r

cl ose (shut)

2. When the nrirncliltular teeth are brought

int<l crlntuct with the maxillarv teeth. they zrre
occ]udecl

3. Occlusion clencltes zr stirtic contact re-

lationship betrveen the rnaxillary and
te e th . milnclibulirr

-1. The teeth may be occluded iri several

mandil>ul:rr positions. The position of n'raxi-
mum pltrnnecl contact of the occlustrl surfirces
of the mtrrillary and mandil>ular teeth is
terrned centric or retruded occl usi on
c ont ac t p o s i ti o n . T h i s p o s i ti o n is sholvn in
F igur e X I-1 .

370
TH E G E O M E T RYO F OC C L U SIONOF C O MP L ETED E N TU R E S 371

Figur e Xl- 1

5. E x am ine F i g u re XI-2 . T h i s i s i t c o ro n a l
section clf cornplete clentures.T h e te e th i n th i s
case are illso in the retrtrcleclcontirct
or cent r ic oc c lus ion. pclsiticln

6. We know fronr experience thirt the

teeth cnn be occluclecl in clther mrrndibular
positions. In Figure XI-3 you crln see that the
rntrndible htrs been n-rovedto the ptrtient's left
si cl e.T hus , t he ec ce n tri c p o s i ti o n o f o c c l u s i o n
illustrated is - l:rteral occlusion. The left
arrows indictrte the direction of the movernent.

7. The "working side" is the side toward

which the patient rr)oves his manclible, that is
the side on rvhich he chews, and the "bul-
a n ci n g s ide" is t he o p p o s i te s i d e w h e re th e re
sl-ror-rldlte a bolancing cuspal contuct to pre-
vent tilting of the denture. In Figure XI-3 the
372 LE A R N IN GP R OGR A M

RIGHT LEFT

Asa twodime nsional diagr amc annot

in dicate
th etru ecus pr elat ions hips ,
thedotted linesindicate thecusps
plane
wh ichliein a d iff er ent t ot he
planeofthesection.
Figur e Xl- 2

\
RIGHT LEFT

Figur e Xl- 3
 TH E G E O M E T RYO F OC C L U SION
OF C OMP L ETED E N TU R E S
373
baltrncing side is on the pntient,s
arrd th_err,,o right
rking sid,eon the patient,s
_-. left
The di{lerent c.ondyla. ,our,"r."ri
,rr,
srcle rlccounts fclr the different "iat ",
clirections of
the arrows.

8; Exirmine T-igure XI_4. If the

,rlrougnt teeth are
rnto occlusion when the mandiltle
protruded, this contact relationship is
-fr.i*r, tfr.
maxillary and mandibular teeth "i
i, u,
occlusion.
protrrrsi ve (protruded)

9. Thus there are fbur basic

occlusal
positions of the mandibular
teeth ,.lut.J i., centric occlusion
the maxillary teeth. These are:
(a) (retruded contact
(b) posi ti on)
(c') left laternl occlusion
(d) riglit laterrrl occlusion
protrusive occlusion

Figure Xl-4
374 LE A R N IN GP R OGR A M

10. When the teeth slicle in contact from

one basic to another,they are said occlusion
to be in articulation.

11. Thtrs \\'e lnay cliffelentiate ltetr.veen

a rt iculat io n and o cclu sion.
(a) The static relationship of the teeth rvhile
in t ' ont act i s (rt' t' l usi ott
(b) The dynanr.ir:,sliding relationship betr,veen
rnandibular and rnaxillarv teeth is -. trrticulation

12. If the contact between rnaxillary arrd

mandibular teeth occurs on onl1, one sicle of
the :rrch in an occlusal pclsition, the - occlusiou
t s unbal& nc e d .

13. If tooth contact occurs all around the

dental arch in an occlusal position, that
is b a l a n c e d . occl usi on

14. When r:ontact betr'veen maxillary and

mandibular teeth is maintained all around the
dental arch in erll closecl sliding rrlovernenrs,
the articulation is birlanced

15. In alranging artificial teeth on com-

plete dentures, it is ouL airn to procluce
articulation. This can be achieved only llalirr-rced
rvhen there is a harnronious reltrtionship be-
tw,een the condl,le path ancl the fornr and re-
lationships of the teeth.

16. Let us now consider the factors af:

fecting tooth position. The general orientation
of the teeth in the intermaxillary space of the
THE G E O M E T RYO F OC C L U SIONO F C O MP L ETED E N TU R E S 375

edentulous mouth is clecicled when the jaw

relationship is recorded by carving the record
blocks so that they rneet on ir flat plane calied
the - plarre. occltrserl

17. The angle between this plane irnd the

horizontal (as represented by the Frankfbrt
p l a n e ) is c alled t he a n g l e o f th e p l a n e o f -. occl nsi on

18. It is not uncornrnorl to mount eden-

tulotrs casts on an articulator so that the con-
tacting surf'acesof the occlusion rims are hori-
zontirl. Thus the angie of the plane of occlusion
i s-. 0 degrees

-T ---
orr?
I
I
I I
(- OJ-t'
I
I
I
I
I
I I

Figure Xl-s
376 LE A R N IN GP R OGR A M

19. Examine Figure XI-s. At the front of

the mouth the upper incisorsoverlapthe lower
incisorsin a horizontaland a -- direc- vertical
tion.

20. The vertical overlap <lf the uppel in-

cisors over the lower incisors is knclwn as the
incisal oaerbite, whereirs the oueriet is the
overlirp of the upper incisors horizontrrl
over the lower i n c i s o rs .

21. W hen th e rn a n d i b l e i s mo v e d to i ts
protmsive occlusion, the lower incisors move
downward anrl forward to an edge-to-edge
with the upper incisors. occlusion (contact)
At the same time the direction in r.r'hich the
condyles move in the g l e n o i d l ' o s s ai s downward
rrnd -. fbrwald

22. Exarr-rineFigure XI-6. The prrth along

which the lower incisors move makes an angle
to the horizontal ctrlled the -- qr.ridance i nci sal
a ns le.

23. Examine Figure XI-7. Incisal guid-

ance is provided on the articulator by the in-
cisal p<,rst moving on the incisirl guidtutce table.
This table can be tilted and locked at any
angle suitable for the incisal guidance
indiviclual patient. The angulirtion of the table
decides the parth of movement of the anterior
p ar t of t he m an d i l rl e .

24. A steep incisal guiclance irngle rvill

result from a large overbite and a _ _ smal l
overiet.
T HE G E O M E T R YO F
OC C L U SIONOF C OMP LE TE
D E N TU R E S
377

OJ-J
I
I
I

Figure Xt-6

Figure Xl-7
378 LE A R N IN GP R OGR A M

25. Il the dimensions of overiet and over-

bite are the same, the incisal guidance angle
will lre 45 degrees

26. If the overbite is increased Lmt the

incisal guidance angle has to be kept the sarne,
it will be necessary to - the overjet. increase

27. lf the overjet is decreased but the

incisal guidance angle has to be kept the same,
it will be necessary to - the overbite. decrease

28. The overbite cirn l.re incretrsed either'

lry
(a) the maxillary incisors, or lengthening
(b) the mandibtrlar incisors. raising

29. Examine Figure XI-8. When the mrrn-

dible rroves in articulation to a protrusir.'e condl'les
occlusion, the - move on to the (condyle heads)
distal slopes of the articular eminences.

30. The Ttath of the condgle in protnrsion

is detennined by the anatomv of the ioint and
is called the sagittal - ptrth. condylar

31. The angle which this ptrth makes to

the horizontal is termecl the sagittal - conclvlur
guidnnce angle.

32. E.xamine Figure XI-9. This shows the

mechanisnr of the articulator u'hich represents
the tempor<lnrzrncliltularjoint; the pin pitssing
--= : = :I.' = T R Y O F OC C L U SIONOF C OMP LE TED E N TU R E S 379

F i g u r eX l - 8

Figure Xl-9
380 LE A R N IN GP R OGR A M

through the vertical mtrndibular post repre-

sents the condyle, trncl this ellgages the slot
in the adjustable slide on the maxillary corn-
ponent of the articulator. The slide represents
the condl'lar path, and the angle it makes to
the horizontal represents the - strgittal
condl'lar guidance angle

33. T h i s sagittal conclylirr

can be acljusted on the articulator guidance angle
to correspond rvith that of the patient, but
orrce set must not be altered.

34. Thus, tl're closed protrusive gliding

movernents of the mandible are guided
(a) anteriorly bv the incisors along the
incisal guidtrnce angle
(b) posteriorly bv the teruporornandibular
ioint along tire sagittrrl condylar
guidance angle

35, An unusual situation is depicted in

Figure XI-10. The incisal guidance angle and
the sagittal condl'lar guidance nngles are both
15 degrees. Thus, on protrusion the whole

Figu r eX l - 1 0
* _ Yl T HE G E O ME T R YOF O C C L U SIONOF C OMP LE TED E N TU R E S 381

F i g u r eX l - 1 1

mandible lnoves forward and downward at

an irngle of - degrees to the holizorrtal. l5

36 . In F i g u re X I-l l i t c a n l re seen that

an trll around sliding contact between maxil-
iary and mandibular teetli in protrusion can
be maintained rvith teeth having flat occlusal
surfaces, provicled the angle of their plane of
is 15 clegrees. occlusior"r

37 . In F i g u l e X I-1 2 , i f b o th the i nci sal

gtridance and the strgittal conclylar guidance
angles are 20 degrees, then to mainttrin con-
tact of the cuspless posterior teeth, the angle
of the plane of occlusion will have to be in-
c ' r eas e dto -.
20 degrees

38. Thus, if an increase in sagittal con-

d1'lar guidance ancl i n c i s a l g rri di rnc' eanfl es
produces irnbalerncein a set-up, balance can
l>e restorecl b1 the angle of the lllcreasrng
plane o f o c c l u s i o n .
382 LE A R N IN GP R OGR A M

Figur e X l - 1 2

39. This, however, is not usually feasible

in clinical dental practice, owing to lack of
intermaxillary space in the edentulous mouth.
Indeed, it is cornmon practice to set occlusion
rims on the articulator with the plane of oc-
clusion horizontal, thus the angle of the plane
is -. 0 degrees

40. Examine Figure XI-13 (i). It shovi's

the retruded contact positior-rof cuspless poste-
rior teeth which are set to a horizontal plane
of occlusion in a patient with a sagittal con-
dylar guidance angle of 20 degrees ancl arsimi-
lar - ansle. incisal guidance

41. I n F i g u re XI-1 3 (i i ).- occl u- protrusive

sion is illustrated trnd 1.ou can see that contact
is lost between the upper and lower cuspless
posterior teeth. This occlusion is ncit --. balanced
 T HE G E O ME T R YOF OC C L U SIONOF
C OMP LE TED E N TU R E S
383
12. Of course, the occlusal surfaces
of
posterior teeth are not normallv
flat but have
pointed prominences called
cusps

43. Fi g u re XI-l B (i i i ) i s s i m i l a r to
X I_13
(ii), except that the posterior teeth
have cusps
on their occlusal surfaces. The plane
of oc_
clusion is again horizontal but, as the
Jnp",
of the cusps make angles of 20 degrees
to the
horizontal, they harmonize with fhe path
of
the mandible in protrusion, and
balanced articulation
is achieved.

SCGA

(i)

(ii)

(iii;

Figur e X l - 1 3
384 LE A R N IN GP R OGR A M

Horizontal
Figure Xl-14

4,1. Figure XI-1.1 shou's the buccal sur-

face of a typicrrl upper premolar and demon-
strates the cus;.r.The arrgle l;etween the slope
of the cusTt and the plane passing through the
tip of the cusp which is perpendicular to a
line bisecting the cusp, rneasurecl rnesio-
clistally (or buccolinguall.v) is called the - cusp
angle.

45. The definition of cusp angle in the

previous frtrme makes allowance for asy'nr-
metrical cusp slopes, but in the context of this
progrtrnl symnretry is assumed, and the crrsp
trngle is meirsured frorn zr plane passing
through the base of the cusp, which is, of
course, to the defined plane. parallel

46. When the plane passing through

the base of the cusp of a tooth is horizon-
tal, the ar.rglebetrveen the cusp slope and the
horizontal will l>e equal to the - angle. cusp

17. A 20 degree p o s te ri o r tooth is one

with a of 20 degrees. This cusp trngle
 385
- - : . : : : . , , : . A YOF OC C L U SION O F C O MP LE TE D E N TU R E S
is tilted'
.r:.- -: . :- :-,rt alter when the tooth
- l l e tw e e n th e c u s p s l opes and
I ... , . .:---c s
vilr)' with the amount of tilt'
:l , :,- :-:.,.1
-

.\ Fi { u re X I-f5 . W h e n a 2 0 d e gree uP -
1,.,. .' tooth is set on a plane of occlu-
' -..ri,rr
i, ' . . , , = t" a t 5 d e g re e s to th e h ori zontal '
a
and the
t i' c . . r r ; 1 e l l e tw e e n i ts d i s ta l s l o p e
25 degrees
lr , , r iz , t r trtlu ' i l l b e

Itl, This angle is called the e$ective

(re-examine Figure XI-15) cusp angle
and the cusp angle
,.r"1 at the sum of the
and de- plane of occlusion
rlngle of the _=-- '
angle of the plane of oc-
n"".ft"g upon the
made to correspond with the
:1.;;i;rt"""; be
irnqle of mandibular movement'

in
50. Thus, you can see that an increase
plane of occlusion incretrses
tl-ie angle of the
angles of all the Poste- effective cusP
the

CA= CuspAngle
tilt ECA= EffectiveCusPAngle
rO
c = CA+Angleof Plane
of Occlusion (d)
= 250

CA planeof occlusion
2t
angleof P of O.
ECA 25O ECA2d horizontal
F i g u r eX l - 1 5
386 LE A R N IN GP R OGR A M

rior teeth. It is the same as collective tilting

of the teeth.

51. The effective cusp angles of all the

posterior teeth are decreaseclby a - in decrease
t he angle of th e p l a n e o f o c c l u s i o n .

52. Imagine that the mandible is n-roving

at nn angle of 30 degrees to the horizor.rtalin
protrusir.'e movetnents; to maintain trrticultr-
tiorr, the eff'ective cusp angle r.vill have to be
If, h o w e v e r. 9 0 d e g l e e pos- 30 degrees
terior teeth have been set. the nlane of occlu-
sion u'ill htrve to be tilted to l 0 cl egrees
rnaintirin contact; i.e., the effective cusp angle
corresponds to the angle o{ mirndibulirr rrove-
ment.

53. A d i s ti n c ti o n m u s t b e ma d e , h o w ever,
bet ween t he trn g l e o f th e p l a n e o f o c cl usi on
trncl the arnount of tilt of the indiviclual teeth.
You s'ill remenrber thirt the tuigle of the pltrne
of occlusion is detennined in the clinic rrt the
str,rgeof denture construction trncl registrlrtion
indicates the general orientation of the teeth,
whereas the tilt of the individual tooth is
determined in the laboratorv.

54. The tilting of individual teeth rsa

mealls by rvhich the technician adjusts the
to htrlmonize u'ith effective cusp angles
the paths of movement of the rnandible.

55. Examirre Figure XI*16. The sagittal

condylar guidance trngle is 30 degrees and the
inc is al guid a n c e i s 1 0 d e g re e s . T h u s , i n pro-
trusion the po,sterior part of the mandible
moves along a path at to the hori- 30 degrees
zontal and the anterior trlong n path irt 10 degrees
 : = l' . ' ET R Y O F OC C L U ST ON
O F C O MP LE TED E N TU R E S
387

Figure Xt-16

t , , : l. r lr , r r iz o n trrl .A p o i n t
mi d w try between
t l, t . t : . . i, r gui d a n c e s w o u l d
n t an angle
,rf --.--._ to tire horizontal.-n rra
-
20 degrees

5f j. F igur e XI_ 1 6 .2 0 c l e g re e p o s teri or

teetlr .et ri ithout tilt irt
a pol,it mijriay be_
t.,. the, srriclances would hur_-ril"
"",' _itt
of nrrurdib,,tu,,rorr._."i .n
.,]l: :,',1t", ,fr"a
t, ' I r r . lr r lt |).l 1 1 1 [5a n te ri o r w o rrl d re qr| i re
effective cusp angles to
harJonize smal l er
u it h t he.10 c leq re e_
,..r il
|),ri111.po\terior lvoulcl require incisal guidance angle
).tj,t,: larger
c us p r rn g l e sto h a n n o n i z e
:; ll: . , r r " w i th th e 30
oeqree sagittril condylar guidance
ansl;,

57. ,\lrrnufirctured sets of posterior

teeth
oiten have :r standard
urrgl. u"J l" tfrl,
",,rp
c'ase if 20 degree posteriors
were selecterl
the technician woulJ nnrr"
io'r"a""-" ifr-.
angles toward the anterior
by grindi"g ""ro
incre:rse the effective cusp
angles toward ""a the
poster.ior by --.--.---.-_-
the teeth so that itr" o"_
clusal surfirces of the upper tilting
teeth firced rnore
posteriorly.
 LE A R N IN GP R OGR A M
388

1d 1d
l-r

tl
tq a 2d
Al)
| \-;)
\-' k- J

150 20'

ol 2d posterior
Variousamountsof tilt
cusp angles
teeth produceeJfectrve
fromto:,::,::,.,,
'*utb

could
Alterntrtively he
58. Figure XI-17'
t'usp *t-tgl"l,of,thertpper
recluce the eff'ec'tive tn* tn;lJf;
bv tilting them so anteriorlY
"?tt"f^t.
,.1,,r*l t"".1.,[i'lr"d;;el"
surfac'es
monize with the
int "na
ail" ' . *r t " at " g mi g l rt l te a v o i d e d '

settings arel0 de- sagittal condYlar

59. Common articulator u"
c"t;;;;;
,r""1'toi'r.,"i"r ""j":tu"
""c1" guidance
srees for

tilt-
It can be seen'that
60' Figure XI-17' cusp
m:rke their effective
,"g Ii ,f-," ieeth to
the paths ot move-
harmonize with nut
""?f"t of various ntti'- clf the matldih]-:
ment
the occlusal t"tful-l-
given a general
"u'uo-'o of tilt' the nrore promr-
ii;';;"t the amount cuTVe
be this comPensatr'ng
"i",?rr

co{P'ensatesfor
61. Because this "tt'vs
c.nd1'le'on t1 the
,h" ;";;;;;;;"i 'f;" g nl andib ulilr lllove- g cur-ve
rtc e- cltiri n c orrrPen s trtil1
ilrticlrl ar el-tli ne
t lt c
n rctlt'. it it t ' Lllet l
 3E 9

= .- :l .rrl_
--
ri :l rr it r ( r llr ine r r c e o f
,t-.
L11t - compensating curve

63. -\ srnall sagittal condyltrr guidance

angile \\'ould require smaller effectir.,e cusp
.11igles,rnd hence a - pronrineuce of smirller
r1,..,
Lllc _ compensirting curve

6-1. Exarnine Figure XI-18. You carr see

tliilt the prominence of the compensirting
crrrve lrrries directl-v/inversel)' u'ith the cusp inr''erselv
rulgles of tl-reposterior teeth.

65. You lvill remernber that the e{fective

cusp angles must harmonize with paths o1'

30,POSTERIORS

rt
^* '/

20" POSTERIORS

20'posteriorsmust be set on a moreprominentcompensating

curvethan 30" posteriorsin orderto producethe same
effectivecusp angles.
Figur eX l - 1 8
390 LE A R N IN GP R OGR A M

mo\/ement of vilrions parts of the mirndible.

Thus, u'hen the sirgittal condvlar guidance
aDgle is large tlie effective ctlsp an6lles must
be - towarcl the pcsterior encls of the
dental arch. Itrrge

66. When the incistrl gniclirnce ilngle is

smtrll the effective cusp angles ntust become
tou.ard the :rnterior end of the dental srntrller
arch.

67. Thr.rs,incisal guiclirrrceiugle is direct-

ly-/inversell' related to ttre cusp angle anteriorl)' directly
l" th. .l*"tnl arcl'r and srlgittirl condyltrr
guidance ilngle is directly/inversel)' relatecl to clirectly
the cusp angle postelior-lv in the tleutrrl arch.

68. Look at Fignre XI-19. The relatior.r-

ships betrveen condyle guidancer, incisal
guidrrnce, clrsp angies, and effective cusp
angles (rvhich rve hirve alreacly examined rela-
tive to protrusive movements of the rnandiltle)
also apply to lateral movements of the mtrn-
dible. It may help you to think of their rela-
tionship to each other if you regard the ctrspal
guidance on the rvorking side as equivalent to
the incisal gttidirnce, and the condyle and cusp
relationship on the balancing side as ecluival-
ent to the condvle irnd cusp relationship,
u'hich rve have nlretrdy considered reltrtive
to protmsive occlusion.
TIE G E O M E T RYO F OC C L U SION
OF C O MP L ETED E N TU R E S
391

SCG

IGA

Figur e Xt - 19
392 LE A R N IN GP R OGR A M

69. Look at Figure XI-20, which is ir

coronal section through the prernolar regiorr
of a complete clenture. Wl-ren the rnandible
is moved to the right (rvorking side) the buccal
cusp of the lowel right seconcl premolirr
slides on the rnarginirl riclges between the
and the linguirl crlsp upper premolars
of the upper right second premolar slides on
the n"rarginalridges betrveen the lower second
premolar and - --. Tliis lou'er first rnolirr
irllows a relativell' horizontal movement to
harmonize with that of the condyle, as in-
dicated by the arrow' nn the right.

Asa twodimensional diagramcann0t

ind ica th
te etruec us pr elat ions hips ,
thedotted linesindicate thecusos
plane
wh ichliein a d if f er ent t ot he
planeofthesection.
Figure Xl-20
 3= ] ' . ' E T R Y O F O C C L U SIONO F C OMP LE TED E N TU R E S
393

RIGHT LEFT

...UPPER
- LOWER
Figure Xl-21

: r r E \ . r r l i n e F i g u re XI-2 1 . O n th e l eft
r .'.-..: - - . r. i . i(le the r.r.rtindiblernoves forward
, . . . i. - - - : . . l( )\\' n \\' i :rrc 1 d to th e ri g h t. A s the
:rn
- : . i' . . . 1, . . , e r . th e g l e ri o i d fb s s a th e buccal
, . . - ir : : lr e l o s .e r s e c o n d p re mo l a r l eaves
: . r - . : : r , , 1 r i rl []1 g l ti a rg i n a l ri d g e s b e tw een
-r ..:,ii .1icle.
foru.rrrd :rnd lingually onto
-
1. . : , l, ir c c ,a ls l o p e o f th e l i n g u trl c u sp of
.
r . : . - . i. ) €- 1. T ' h u s , the ef_ first premolar
r , i ' . : - r i. p a l tg l e o f th trt s l o p e s h o u l d h a rnron_
z . . . - . ' . : -r,lr e.c o n c l y ' l i rrtl n g l e a n d e n a b l e tooth
, r , i- : r ii, , lr c -n ri ru rti ri n e do n th e b a l a n c i n g
si cl e.

; i CJ r rt h e s ' o rk i n g s i d e th e b u c c a l cusp
, : : 1, . 1, r , ,er r s e c o n d p re mo l trr s l i d e s b u ccal l y
: : , : r - t, t . pO : it i o n o n th e marginal riclges
,: :1,r trplter prentolars to an edge-to-eclge
lt ' i. . t i, , r r . lr ilt n ' i ti t th e s l o p e s o f th e l tu ccal
_ _
l-
 394 LE A R N IN GP R OGR A M

RIGHT LEFT

FigureXl-22

72. On the rvorking side the path of move-

rnent of the teeth rvill not be cluite horizontirl
(:rs indicatecl in Figure XI-20), but, :rs shown
in Figure XI-22, will be relrrted to the path
of trtrvel of the canines over each other and
to the transverse curve of the right glenoid
lbssrr.C)n the left side the path of the condyle
will not be exactly the same trs that of the
sagittal condylar path, but will be sligl-itly
less, irs tlre condyle is trrrveling transversely,
across the f'ace of the articr,rlar eminence.

73. On the balnncing side the angle be-

tween the strgittal plrrne irnd tl'ie path of the
condyle in lateral movernent is cnlled the
B ennett angle

74. Loctk nt Figure XI-22. When the man-

dible is swung toward the right side, the right
condyle rnoves laterally (Bennett sliift) along
 THE G E O M E T RYO F O C C L U SION
O F C O MP L ETED E N TU R E S
395
a
_Irrrth of say l0 degrees to the horizontal,
u'hile tl're canine guidance
n" tt.,. ,jgtl _uy
ctruse the front of the mandible
to mJve ar an
irngle,of 20 degrees to the horizontal.
Thus, the combined effect of the
condylar
trncl canine guidance on the
riglit sicle would
be that the mandible moves
_"l"of"
_ r r l a po i n t mi d w a y "il re tw e e n
, ;_ , r.o"fn _ l 5 degrees
Ct v le . i l l d citnine.

75. On the left side the condyle

travels
tonvurd, downward and inwarcl
at.rn angle of
sar' 40 degrees, so a point _id*,.y tr"_
-that
tn'ssl1 the left condyle arrJ the right canine
guidtrnce would travel at
trn angle ;i_-_-.
Thus the effective cusp arrgles 30 degrees
of the lingutrl
cusps of the left upper premoltrrs
shoulcl be
. J U O eg r e e s .

7 6 . T he v ec t or s d e s c ri b e d i n
discussing
the geometr-y are those employed
by the den_
tal technician in setting the
teeth when he
moves the articulator from
the posilion of
ntilxirrum interctrspation into
. protr.,sive cr.
lett or r.ight lateral occlusion.
However, the
hurrtrn mandillle in flnction
_nrr"r'in the
reciproc:rls of these vectors,
ltut it will be ap_
precirrted that if occlusion
is balance.clin ur."
clirection it witl trtso be lrul,,;;;l-l;*th:
op
po si te d ir ec t ion.

77. This program on the geometry

, of oc_
clusion presents an oversimplified
version of.
mirnv of the relationships.
ihe .lartl"ity uf
the tissues surrounding^ the
;oinrs-"oia ,f.,"
clisplaceabillty of the dentures'are
iactons that
contriltute to the complexity
n"a ,_r.rot"-itail
ficrilt to trnnslate
lrrorr"rrr"ir,, ,rla
purell. mathematical -nrrdib.,ln.
fbrmulas
The mandible should be regardecl
. as ir
bone in u muscul.r sling of
,i"ir"r,u.
.{lthough its movement is "".r-,r-frf.
determirr"a i,, .ru_.
396 LE A R N IN GP R OGB A M

Figure Xl-23

extent by the joir-rts and the teeth, it is also

capable of movements thtrt cannot be defined
precisely. Hou'ever, u'hen rnaking complete
clentures it is necesstrry to use an articulator'
that is adjustecl to at least tur npproxintation
of the piltient's mandibular rnovements, and
ir knor.l'ledge of the geometry associateclq,ith
such rnovements helps greatlf in the setting
ol t he ar t if i c ' i a l te e tl r.

78. Figtrre XI-23 shou,s theor-v being

translated into practice. The tooth is tilted
until tlie betr,r,eenthe effective cusp angle
distal slope of its cusp and the horizontal sur-
firce of the record block harmonizes u'ith the sagittal/condylar
arrd tl-re guidirnce angle
incisal guidance angle