Practical Applications in Dental Occlusion

Occlusion is often boiled down to the “tap, tap, and grind” of articulating paper marks dentists perform daily. And for 90% of appointments, occlusion can be largely ignored until it’s time to get out the articulating paper at the end of the appointment. Tap, tap, and grind. Drill the red marks. However, sometimes the patient’s current bite won’t allow the necessary treatment, and a new occlusion must be built and transferred to the lab. But how? Should the patient determine the maxillomandibular position (ie, show where they feel comfortable), or should scientific principles be applied to find the physiologic maxillomandibular relationship? How do you capture the new occlusion for the lab? That’s where this book comes in—to teach you a simplified concept of occlusion that can help you perform predictable and successful treatment. The book is divided into two parts: Part 1 outlines guiding principles and a simplified model of occlusion, and Part 2 features specific situations you will come across as you diagnose, treatment plan, and treat your patients’ cases. Author Michael Radu breaks everything down and offers explanatory analogies to help you conceptualize the principles of occlusion in a way you can understand and apply to daily practice for the benefit of your patients cases.