Fig. 1. Mandibular pattern of movement during the swallow- Fig. 4. Reverse occlusal curve is used for the average patient.
ing of saliva. R, Physiologic rest position, PC, Physiologic Cast metal bar is inserted in denture base to prevent spreading
centric position: HCT, habitual closing terminal. of lower denture during swallowing.
denture, and the upper occlusal surfaces are covered and the bone structure are not symmetrical on both
with 30 gauge wax; both dentures are inserted, and the sides of the head.
patient is asked to glide his teeth forward and backward The reverse occlusal curve of occlusion is used in
and from side-to-side without exaggeration. The area of preference to the flat or the compensating curve (curve
the upper lingual cusp that appears through the wax is of Spee of youth) because it has been observed that the
marked and reduced with a fine stone (Fig. 6). occluding surfaces of normal natural dentitions that
Remember, the physiologic way to remove pre- survive to middle life or later were gradually changed to
mature contacts from the paths leading to centric the reverse occlusal curves. It has also been observed that
occlusion in the mouth is to reduce the buccal cusps of complete dentures with plastic teeth which were set up
the lower teeth and the lingual cusps of the upper teeth originally to a compensating curve were changed to
for normal cases. a reverse curve within a few years. Since nature gradually
develops a reverse curve in the normal dentition and
since occlusal changes in the mouth are slow and often
PART II harmful to the underlying tissues, the ultimate form is
The rationale anticipated.
One of the physiologic requirements of centric
Complete dentures are constructed to function in the occlusion is that there must be an absence of premature
mouth as an integral part of the masticatory apparatus, contacts from the occlusal paths leading to centric
and, therefore, they should be designed to conform to occlusion because of the harmful effects that develop.
the patient’s physiologic jaw relations. The dentures Another occlusal requirement, of a nonphysiologic na-
should also conform to the functional occlusal move- ture, is that there must be no premature contacts along
ments of swallowing, the nonfunctional lateral and the the paths leading to and from centric occlusion during
protrusive movements of bruxism, and the deformation the lateral and protrusive movements of bruxism.
of the dentures which occurs during swallowing. In locating premature contacts, a thin layer of wax is
Recently dental and oral physiology have been used on the occlusal surfaces because it does not
applied in the maintenance, rehabilitation, and re- interfere with the functioning of the dentures nor affect
placement of the natural dentition. The result is that the musculature or other organs of the mouth.
functional movements are used to replace the artic- The reduction of the buccal slopes of the lower buccal
ulating machines and other mechanical devices that are cusps and the incisal edges of the lower anterior teeth is
used for locating mandibular positions and for esta- recommended because this procedure refines the
blishing occlusion in the treatment of the dental organ. arbitrary reverse curve to the patient’s individual curve.
The function of swallowing saliva is the determinative The reduction of the lingual slopes of the upper lingual
factor for obtaining the individual’s natural vertical cusps produces a similar effect.
dimension and centric relation because of its twenty- When complete dentures have been adjusted in the
four-hour function. The constancy with which the mouth to conform to the physiologic centric occlusion
mandible is raised by the elevator muscles to the vertical at the natural vertical dimension and when all the paths
dimension and then retruded by the muscles of the leading to centric occlusion are free from premature
tongue to the centric relation makes the swallowing contacts, the physiologic requirements for both jaw
function a reliable guide in recording the muscle relations and occlusion have been fulfilled.
function of the masticatory apparatus.
One of the mechanical advantages in constructing 0022-3913/$30.00
Copyright ª 2004 by the Editorial Council of The Journal of Prosthetic
complete dentures to the jaw positions used in Dentistry
swallowing is that a balanced centric occlusion under
light pressure may be obtained where the musculature doi:10.1016/j.prosdent.2003.09.001