Tooth gliding occurs frequently both in the opening (55.9%) and closing (60.5%) chewing strokes. The average glide length was 1 mm. Good occlusions could not be distinguished from poor occlusion on the basis of frequency and length of gliding contacts. The greater the component of lateral movement during the closing stroke, the greater the probability that gliding contacts would occur.

No abstract

Responses to sudden contact of the teeth with a hard object hidden in soft food were investigated in seven individuals. The result recorded was unexpected stoppage of jaw movement, rather than a jaw opening reflex commonly thought to occur.

The objective of this study was to compare tooth mobility following two methods of eliminating nonworking side interference (NWSI). The first method involved the complete elimination of any tooth contact on the NWS. The second method involved the reduction of the NWSI to a level which was harmonious with the occlusion on the working side.Thirty-three clinically healthy individuals having nonworking side interferences and no pathological signs of occlusai trauma, participated in the study. After 1 month of intensive training in oral hygiene, the volunteers were divided into three groups of 11 each. The first two groups were experimental and the third group received no occlusal adjustment to serve as a control.In the first group tooth mobility measurements and periapical x-ray films of teeth with nonworking interferences were taken. Occlusal interferences were then totally eliminated by selective tooth grinding. Two months later mobility and x-ray recordings of same teeth were repeated. In the second group the same procedure was performed, but nonworking side interferences were adjusted to harmonious contacts with occlusion on the working side. Tooth mobility was measured in hundredths of a millimeter, using the microperiodontometer designed by Miihlemann (1954). Data were subjected to statistical analysis and the following conclusions were drawn: 1. Tooth mobility was significantly (P