Facet pattern in intact and restored dentitions of young adults. A comparative study.
The attritional dental pattern was studied clinically and on plaster casts in a group of individuals, 17-22 years old, with intact teeth and in a control group with a 'normal' distribution of dental restorations. The following observations were made: 1) all contact areas between occluding teeth exhibited facets; 2) most facets were located on inclines; 3) facets in the fossa bottom occurred oftenest in the control group and often involved fillings; 4) attritional facets on the distal marginal crest of the lower second molars were oftenest found in the control group; 5) denuded dentin in facets occurred oftenest in the control group; and 6) the number of facets and the worn areas were on an average largest in the control group. The findings in this study indicate a difference in the functional activity between the groups and support the hypothesis that dental fillings can induce changes in the neuromuscular pattern of the masticatory system.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003761:Dental Impression Technique; D003766:Dental Occlusion; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent; D003817:Dentition; D006801:Humans; D003765:Models, Dental; D014072:Tooth Abrasion / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology