Occlusal objectives in orthodontic treatment

Abstract

An attempt has been made to present a means for preventing the temporomandibular joint pain-dysfunction syndrome by treating to the terminal hinge position and using postreatment occlusal adjustment procedures. 1.1. Any postorthodontic patient who is not in centric relation and has occlusal interferences has the potential for temporomandibular joint pain-dysfunction syndrome symptoms to develop in the future.2.2. The orthodontist should manipulate the mandible of every patient at each visit, placing the condyle in the terminal hinge position. He should close the mandible until initial tooth contact is reached and diagnose the patient's problems from this position and not from the centric occlusion position.3.3. The case should be finished with the teeth in centric relation occlusion.4.4. The orthodontist should equilibrate the occlusion of every completed case to eliminate the minute occlusal interferences which are always present.5.5. The case treated to centric relation can be equilibrated effectively without mounting on an articulator.6.6. If we have the concept of building an occlusion to fit the jaw mechanism, the temporomandibular joint pain-dysfunction syndrome can be virtually eliminated in the postorthodontic patient.