Occlusal and prosthodontic trauma

Abstract

There is a tendency among dentists to approach the problem of the removable partial denture treatment from the mechanic-artisan point of view, rather than from the biologic, health, and professional point of view. The trend is to differentiate these spheres of activity properly in prosthodontics and to place greater responsibility on the health operator—the dentist. Many more items relating to occlusal trauma and “dynamic irritation” are associated with partial prosthodontic treatments than have been discussed in this essay. The hope is that dentists will become increasingly conscious of the need to eliminate these various traumas associated with this branch of prosthodontics and that much less resistance will be offered professionally to the considerable preparations generally needed by the oral components of a broken-down masticatory organ, such as is common to patients wearing removable partial dentures.