Occlusal interferences and functional disturbances of the masticatory system

Abstract A total of 282 patient histories and occlusal analyses made by students for instructional purposes were evaluated. An attempt was made to correlate the slide from centric relation to centric occlusion (maximum intercuspation), and occlusal interferences in eccentric movements, to pain and/or symptoms of functional disturbances of the masticatory system. A slide in combination with balancing interference(s) was found almost twice as frequently in patients with pain and/or symptoms compared to patients with no symptoms. Neither the amount nor the direction of the slide was correlated with the pain and/or symptoms. The balancing interferences tended to be located on the pain and/or symptom side.