Relationship of the
Mandibular Dental Arch
to the Maxillary Dental
Arch
Relationship of the Mandibular
Dental Arch to the Maxillary
Dental Arch
The position of the
mandible when the
teeth are brought into
full interdigitation with
the maximal number of CENTRIC OCCLUSION
teeth contacting is the
intercuspal position or
centric occlusion
Relationship of the Mandibular
Dental Arch to the Maxillary
Dental Arch
▪ Centric occlusion is
AKA acquired
occlusion, habitual
occlusion, convenience
occlusion, most
occlusal position
Relationship of the Mandibular
Dental Arch to the Maxillary Dental
Arch
▪ Alignment of teeth follow a parabolic curve
Relationship of the Mandibular Dental
Arch to the Maxillary Dental Arch
▪ The maxillary arch is
bigger than the
mandibular arch
▪ This prevents the lips,
cheeks and tongue
from being clipped
during function
Anterior teeth: maxillary anterior teeth positioned
labial to mandibular anterior teeth
Relationship of the Mandibular Dental
Arch to the Maxillary Dental Arch
▪ The maxillary anterior
teeth overlap the
mandibular teeth
Overjet – horizontal
overlap between the
anterior teeth
Overbite – vertical
relationship between
the anterior teeth
Relationship of the Mandibular Dental
Arch to the Maxillary Dental Arch
▪ Mandibular incisors
and canines contact
the lingual surfaces of
the opposing teeth
Inter-arch Tooth Alignment
maxillary mesial inclined planes occlude
with distal mandibular inclined planes
Inter-arch Tooth Alignment
Posterior teeth: Buccal cusps of upper teeth lateral to
buccal cusps of lower teeth
Relationship of the Mandibular Dental
Arch to the Maxillary Dental Arch
▪ The maxillary posterior
teeth are slightly
buccal to the
mandibular posterior
teeth cusps
The buccal cusps and
buccal surfaces of the
maxillary teeth are
buccal to those in the
mandibular arch
Relationship of the Mandibular Dental
Arch to the Maxillary Dental Arch
▪ The maxillary posterior
teeth are slightly
buccal to the
mandibular posterior
teeth cusps
The lingual cusps of
the maxillary teeth
rest in the occlusal
fossae of the
mandibular teeth
Relationship of the Mandibular Dental
Arch to the Maxillary Dental Arch
▪ The maxillary posterior
teeth are slightly
buccal to the
mandibular posterior
teeth cusps
The buccal cusps of
the mandibular teeth
rest in the occlusal
fossae of the
maxillary teeth
Relationship of the Mandibular Dental
Arch to the Maxillary Dental Arch
▪ The maxillary posterior
teeth are slightly
buccal to the
mandibular posterior
teeth cusps
The lingual cusps and
lingual surfaces of the
mandibular teeth are
lingual to those in the
maxillary teeth
Significance:
1. prevents tongue or cheek biting
2. effective breaking up of food during
mastication
3. maximizes efficiency of musculature
during function to continually put food
on the occlusal surfaces
4. vertical dimension of occlusion and
maximum intercuspation
5. directs and distributes forces of
occlusion on the teeth and within the
components of the TMJ
Relationship of the Mandibular Dental
Arch to the Maxillary Dental Arch
▪ Supporting cusps
(centric, holding, or
stamp cusps) - cusps
that contact the
opposing teeth along
the central fossa line
▪ Non-supporting cusps-
cusps that overlap the
opposing teeth
Relationship of the Mandibular Dental
Arch to the Maxillary Dental Arch
OCCLUSAL LINES
Central fossa OL Facial OL Lingual OL
Relationship of the Mandibular Dental
Arch to the Maxillary Dental Arch
▪ Facial occlusal line – an imaginary arc
connecting the row of facial cusps
Relationship of the Mandibular Dental
Arch to the Maxillary Dental Arch
▪ Central fossa line – an
imaginary line
connecting the central
fossae
Relationship of the Mandibular Dental
Arch to the Maxillary Dental Arch
▪ The maxillary lingual
occlusal line and the
mandibular central
fossa line coincide
Relationship of the Mandibular Dental
Arch to the Maxillary Dental Arch
The long axis midline of
each maxillary tooth is
slightly distal to the
vertical axis of the
corresponding
mandibular tooth
◦ The tip of the
mesiobuccal cusps of the
maxillary 6 is aligned
directly over the
mesiobuccal groove of
the mandibular 6
Relationship of the Mandibular Dental
Arch to the Maxillary Dental Arch
ON PREMOLARS…
▪ Each mandibular premolar is located one-half
tooth width anterior to its maxillary antagonist
Relationship of the Mandibular Dental
Arch to the Maxillary Dental Arch
ON PREMOLARS…
▪ The mandibular facial
cusp contacts the
maxillary premolar
MMR
▪ The maxillary premolar
lingual cusp contacts
the mandibular DMR
Relationship of the Mandibular Dental
Arch to the Maxillary Dental Arch
▪ Mandibular facial cusp
tips contact the
maxillary marginal
ridge and central
fossae and triangular
ridges
Relationship of the Mandibular Dental
Arch to the Maxillary Dental Arch
▪ Anterior tooth contacts influence contacting
relationships of posterior teeth during jaw
movements
Significance:
1. guide the mandible through the various
lateral movements (anterior guidance)
2. incise food
3. speech, esthetics and lip support
4. anterior discluders of posterior teeth
during lateral and protrusive excursive
sliding movements
