In a conventional complete denture set-up, LINGUALIZED occlusion is characterised by which contact scheme?

Correct answer: D. The maxillary LINGUAL cusps are the only functioning cusps, occluding into the mandibular central fossae

• A. Simultaneous buccal and lingual contact describes a fully anatomic bilaterally balanced set-up, not a lingualized one.
• B. This reverses the scheme. Making the maxillary BUCCAL cusps the functioning cusps directs force buccally and off the ridge crest, creating exactly the tipping moment lingualized occlusion is designed to eliminate.
• C. Absence of centric contact would destabilise the prostheses entirely; bilateral simultaneous contact in centric is a requirement of every complete denture scheme.
• D. CORRECT. In LINGUALIZED occlusion the maxillary LINGUAL cusp is the sole functioning cusp and seats into the mandibular central fossa; the maxillary buccal cusps are taken out of contact. Concentrating the load lingually directs the occlusal force closer to the crest of the mandibular residual ridge, minimises the lateral (tipping) vectors that unseat a lower denture, and preserves the esthetics and bolus penetration of an anatomic tooth form. It is especially valuable in flat or severely resorbed mandibular ridges and in Class II relationships.

Note: Lingualized occlusion is best understood as a MODIFIED balanced scheme — it retains balancing contacts in excursion while restricting the working contact to the maxillary lingual cusp.