Correlation between inclination of occlusal plane and masticatory movement.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the inclination of the occlusal plane and masticatory movement.

METHODS

Masticatory movements of 41 young adults were measured using the three-dimensional Mandibular Movement Analyzing System. The inclination of the occlusal plane was measured in the sagittal plane using a three-dimensional digitizer.

RESULTS

In the sagittal plane, the masticatory closing path and the occlusal plane were consistent in maintaining a perpendicular relation with each other regardless of the inter-individual variation of the inclination of the occlusal plane. Subjects with an anteriorly inclined occlusal plane showed a vertical closing path, and subjects with a posteriorly inclined occlusal plane showed a flat closing path in the frontal plane. These characteristics were explained by the variation of the timing on the balancing-side condylar return correlated with the inclination of the occlusal plane.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a significant correlation between the inclination of the occlusal plane and the direction of the closing path during mastication.