In complete dentures:

Balanced occlusion is desirable on complete dentures

because occlusal stresses may cause instability of the
denture or trauma to the supporting structures.

In partial denture:
occlusal stresses are transmitted directly to the abutment
teeth and other supporting structures, the resultant
stresses may be more damaging than those transient
stresses formed in complete denture. Therefore, it is
important in PD to establish functional and harmonious
occlusion.
 In PD the remaining natural teeth
influence the form of the denture teeth
and must conform to an already
established occlusal pattern, but in case
of an opposing C.D. it can be made to
harmonize with the partial denture.
In cases when only anterior teeth remain
on both arches the recordings of jaw
relations and the arrangement of teeth
may be preceded in the same manner as
with C.D.
Objective:
The objective of this stage of clinical
treatment is to record a specific
jaw relationship, so that the casts
can be mounted on an articulator
thus permitting correct positioning
of the artificial teeth.
Objective:
Establishing functional and
harmonious occlusion in
removable partial prosthodontics
is essential for preservation of the
health of the supporting
structures.
Requirements of satisfactory occlusion:
To establish satisfactory occlusion the
following factors are required:
1- Analysis of the existing occlusion.
2- Correction of existing occlusal
disharmony.
3- Recording the centric relation.
4- Recording the eccentric (functional)
relations.
5- Correction of occlusal discrepancies
created in the denture.
Diagnostic casts are fabricated to analyze the case and
to survey it. Although some diagnostic casts may be
occluded by hands, occlusal adjustments are much
better accomplished on an adjustable articulator.

Casts are mounted in relation to the axis-orbital

plane in order to permit better interpretation of the
occlusal plane in relation the horizontal plane.

All widely used articulators [Hanau H.series, Dentatus and

Improved Gysi] are semi-adjustable articulators and
can also be used for adjusting occlusion.
1- Reshaping or recontouring of remaining teeth
2- Fixed restorations

3- Orthodontic treatment
4- Prospective surgical preparation

Extraction of teeth may be indicated:

 If the tooth can not be restored to a state of health.
 If its absence will permit a more serviceable and less
complicated partial denture design.
 If it is so un-esthetically located as to justify its
removal improve appearance
a- Avoid placing the artificial teeth over the retromolar pad area to avoid
shunting of the denture anteriorly.

b- Positioning of the mandibular buccal cusps on the buccal turn point of

the crest, so as to direct the occlusal stresses towards the buccal
shelf of bone, which is a primary stress bearing area.

c- Positioning of the maxillary buccal cusps slightly buccal to the

maxillary ridge, which is an unfavorable condition, but it is
counteracted by direct retainers on the other side of the PD or by
contact in the balancing or working sides (balanced occlusion).

d- Using of narrow artificial teeth buccolingually or using of smaller size

canines and premolars instead of premolars and molars, in order to
decrease the forces transmitted to the underlying structures.
a- Avoid placing the
artificial teeth over
the retromolar pad
area to avoid
shunting of the
denture anteriorly.
 Common occlusal disharmonies:

Problem I

Mesial inclination of the

posterior molar severely

Solution:
1- Recontouring, through flat reduction distally
of the drifted tooth.
2- Restoring the tooth by crowns.
3- Orthodontic repositioning.
4- Extraction if it is severely damaged.
Problem II
Loss of interarch distance
Solution:
Approximately 2mm of enamel can be removed, but if
the extrusion is greater than 1-2 mm, placement of
an extracoronal metallic restoration is indicated.
In severe cases posterior segment osteotomy may be
effective in correction of this problem.
Anterior maxillary osteotomy may also be effective for
patients with severe protrusion of the anterior teeth
or deep vertical overlap.
Problem III:
Irregular or mal posed occlusal Plane
Solution:
1- Enameloplasty if the extrusion is in one cusp (1-2
mm).
2- Extracoronal metallic restoration.
3- Posterior or anterior segmental osteotomy.
4- Extraction of the malposed tooth or teeth.
Problem IV:
Traumatic vertical overlap of anterior teeth
Solution:
Early recognition of the problem and treatment with
orthodontic or combined orthodontic or
orthognathic surgical procedures are the treatment
of choice.
According to

1-The number and distribution of

existing teeth.
2-The decision whether the teeth
will be arranged in centric
occlusion or centric relation.
1 - If there is sufficient number of teeth; either by:
a- Direct apposition of the casts, or,
b- Interocclusal record with posterior teeth remaining:
i. using Jone’s bite framework, or
ii. interocclusal wax record.

2- If there is no sufficient number of teeth:

a. Occlusal relation using occlusal rims on recorded
bases.
b. Jaw relation records made entirely on occlusion rims.
c. Functional generating path method (dynamic
occlusion).
 a- Direct apposition of casts
If there are at least 3-4 positive contacts
between the posterior natural teeth at
each arch, then the upper and lower
casts can be opposed by hands against
each other, sticky wax and wire loops
are needed to fix the casts together.
Advantage:
Avoid errors from patients.
Disadvantage:
The occlusion is controlled
By the exsisting vertical dimension
 b- Interocclusal records with
posterior remaining teeth
This technique is used if there are remaining posterior
teeth but not sufficient to be opposed by hand e.g.
class III Kennedy PD.
b- Interocclusal records with
posterior remaining teeth
1- Jone’s bite framework.
 b- Interocclusal records with
posterior remaining teeth
2. interocclusal wax record
Interocclusal wax record
using adjustable
framework is used to
relate mandibular cast to
the previously mounted
maxillary cast.
This technique is carried out using uniformly softened
reinforced wax wafer corrected by zinc oxide paste or
quick setting stone over the wax
 b- Interocclusal records with
posterior remaining teeth
This technique is used if there are remaining posterior
teeth but not sufficient to be opposed by hand e.g.
class III Kennedy PD.

ii. interocclusal wax record.

II- if there is no sufficient number of
teeth:
1- Occlusal relations using occlusal
record bases:
Indications:
1 - In case of distal extension areas.
2- Long teeth bounded saddles.
3- No contact between opposing natural teeth.
Interocclusal Record
Adequate tooth number
vs.
Inadequate tooth
number
to support the bite
registration materials

Selectively
adding the
wire clasps
can improve
the
retention &
stability of the
record base
for accurate
jaw record
 Interocclusal
Record
Adequate tooth
number
vs.
Inadequate tooth
number
to support the bite
registration
materials

Keep the space for the

bite registration material

Bite registration materials:

ZOE bite registration paste
Wax Compound
Silicone
 2. RPD Jaw Relation Records Using
Record Base Attached to the Framework.
3- Jaw relation records made entirely on
occlusion rims
 Used when there is no contact between the remaining natural
teeth.
 Maxillary complete denture opposed by mandibular PD.
 Maxillary class I partial denture opposed by lower anterior
natural teeth.
 When the remaining natural teeth are few and do not
occlude.
Jaw relation records in this
case is the some as for CD cases.
3- Jaw relation records made entirely on occlusion rims
 The upper rim may
require to be thinned
from the palatal aspect
to accommodate lower
natural anterior teeth.
Adjust the lip support in case of Kennedy class VI
partial denture
 Determination of the
occlusal plane depends on:

1- Aesthetic base.
2- Functional base (chewing and speech).
3- Physical and mechanical bases (leverage
action and parallelism).
The desired incisal level. This is decided by reference
to adjacent teeth and to resting level of upper lip

Position of Anterior Teeth dictated by Esthetics and

Phonetics
Incisal level of the rim should be parallel
to the interpupillary line. The upper
posterior occlusal is parallel to the ala-
tragus line (Camper’s Line)
 Fixed Position
Measurable
Identifiable
Relationship to natural dentition
The level of the occlusal plan should be
below the level of the maximum
convexity of the tongue to provide
denture stability
 3- Functional generating path method
(Dynamic occlusion)

This technique produces an occlusion that is in

functional harmony with the facial skeleton, the
musculature, the TMJ and the remaining natural
teeth.

The theory is based on that each tooth opposed to the

edentulous space will make throughout all functional
movements of the mandible. The artificial teeth may
thus be positioned and formed so that it will remain in
harmonious contact with its antagonists at all times.
advantage:
It eliminates the need for adjustment of an
articulator and the need to make a face bow transfer
because.
All the information desired are recorded in the
pathway..

Disadvantage:
1- If the two arches are partially edentulous, the
occlusion in one of the arches must be complete
before a generated patient can be developed.

2- If a partial denture is opposed by a complete

denture, the partial denture must be constructed first
in the conventional method and then the CD is
constructed according to the functionally generated
path.
 Technique:
1- Construct an accurate, stable and finished
acrylic denture base attached to the metallic
framework.
2- Fix the wax occlusion rim to the denture base.
This wax should be hard enough to support
biting stress and should be tough enough to
resist fracture (Peek's purple hard inlay wax).
3- The occlusion rim wax must have enough height
and width to record all extremes of mandibular
movement.
N.B: There must be positive occlusal contacts with
the opposing dentition in order to avoid loss of
vertical dimension.
4- The patient should wear the occlusion rim constantly for
a period of 24 hours or more including nighttime, except
for removal during meals.
5- The patient is instructed to chew and glide to
curve the wax by the opposing teeth (To perform
all voluntary excursive and involuntary
movements).

6- If during this period the wax occlusion rim has

not been reduced to the natural occlusal contact.
The patient is instructed to use it for another 24
hours, till the registration is completed and
accepted.

7- The accepted occlusion rim should show a

continuous intact glossy surface indicating a
functional contact with opposing teeth in all
extremes of movements.
8- Boxing the occlusal rim with wax filled with
hard stone to form the occluding template.
9- The whole assembly is then mounted onto a
hinge articulator.
10- Open the articulator and remove the wax
and arrange the teeth to the opposing natural
or artificial teeth and the occlusion is
established.
11- Teeth are arranged and modified to occlude
with the template and not according to rules
of setting up of teeth.
Causes of failure of adequate occlusion
in functional generating path
technique:

1- Unsupported base.

2- Wrong occlusion.

3- Unacceptable occlusal plane.