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Prosthodontics & Occlusion · single question

In the context of mandibular excursive movements, what characterizes the BALANCING side (non-working side)?

  1. Contact of anterior teeth on the side where the mandible is moving
  2. No contact of posterior teeth on the side away from mandibular movement
  3. No contact of anterior teeth on the side away from mandibular movement
  4. Contact of posterior teeth on the side away from mandibular movement
Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: D. Contact of posterior teeth on the side away from mandibular movement

  • A. The side where the mandible moves toward is the WORKING side — anterior contact there describes canine guidance or group function.
  • B. In ideal occlusion (canine guidance), there are NO contacts on the balancing side at all. But 'no contact of posterior teeth on the balancing side' is what we WANT — making this a desired feature, not a description of what balancing side contacts ARE.
  • C. This describes a characteristic of the working (functional) side, not balancing side contacts.
  • D. The BALANCING side (non-working side) is where posterior teeth MAY contact in bilateral balanced occlusion (complete dentures) or in non-ideal dentitions. Balancing side contacts = posterior tooth contact on the side AWAY from mandibular movement. These are generally undesirable in natural dentition but intentionally present in complete denture occlusion.

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