Long-term changes in the perception of comfortable mandibular occlusal positions.
The aim of this study was to disclose, whether use of a screw jack device to set the distance between the jaws, would contribute towards a stabilization of the magnitude and position of a comfortable zone of mandibular positions or even eliminate it. Thirteen subjects participated in each of fifteen experimental sessions distributed over a 3-week period. Throughout the investigation the zone prevailed at an average width of 1-3 mm. The gap shrank 0-08 mm on average per experimental session. Although this latter value was found to be significant statistically, it can hardly be of clinical importance, considering the time needed for a total contraction of 0-8 mm to develop.
D000368:Aged; D003766:Dental Occlusion; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009066:Mouth, Edentulous / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010465:Perception; D013997:Time Factors; D014716:Vertical Dimension