Biologic laws governing functions of muscles that move the mandible. Part IV. Degree of jaw separation and potential for maximum jaw separation.

Accurate diagnosis and treatment of the gnathostomatic system require an understanding of both its biomechanics and its physiology. Clinically, the treatment consists of modifying the existing occlusal program to relieve stress from distressed tissues. The objective of treatment is to effect a neuromuscular release of the mandible. This may be accomplished by (1) equilibration of the natural occlusion, (2) orthodontics, (3) restorative procedures, or (4) surgery. Most frequently, however, the treatment entails some combination of these procedures. The criteria for success of treatment are not determined by the method or technique employed but by the neuromuscular response that the treatment produces. The purpose of this article is not to suggest which occlusal scheme produces the most favorable muscle response in the gnathostomatic tissues. Neither is an objective of this article to teach the mandible-manipulation techniques that are needed to identify occlusal irritants, perform occlusal equilibrations, or obtain accurate centric relation recores. The objective of this article is to emphasize that there are definite principles by which the muscles respond to occlusal contacts. Occlusal contacts can excite bruxism and the sequelae to bruxism. Knowledge of the laws which govern functions of the muscles that move the mandible enables the dentist to acquire the mandibular-manipulation skills that are necessary for the effective diagnosis and treatment of occlusal conditions.