Modulation of occlusal plane during puberty.

The biological significance of the occlusal plane is of tremendous importance in the study of the etiology, diagnosis and treatment of malocclusion. The purpose of this investigation was to correlate the changes on the occlusal plane of patients in treatment with functional appliances and the subjects with no need of treatment during the prepubertal and pubertal period. Data on the space between the upper and lower occlusal lines-Interocclusal Distance (IOD) was obtained periodically. Some remarks about which changes are naturally provoked or not are very useful in the treatment of malocclusions and the evaluation of the occlusal plane in cases that do not need treatment.