title: The main occluding area in normal occlusion and mandibular prognathism.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To clarify whether the concept of main occluding area, where hard food is initially crushed, exists in patients who have a jaw deformity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nineteen subjects with normal occlusion, 18 patients with mandibular prognathism, and 11 patients with mandibular prognathism who had undergone orthognathic surgery participated in this study. The main occluding area was identified by clenching Temporary Stopping. The coincidence, location of the main occluding area, and distance from the first molars to main occluding area were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  High coincidence of the main occluding area was obtained in all groups, signifying that the main occluding area exists even in these patients. Mandibular main occluding area was located on the first molar in all groups. Maxillary main occluding area in subjects with normal occlusion was located on the first molar. However, it was located on the second premolar and first molar in patients with mandibular prognathism, and on the first and second molars in patients with mandibular prognathism who had undergone orthognathic surgery. There was a statistically significant difference in distance from the maxillary first molar to the main occluding area among groups, but there was no difference in the distance from the mandibular first molar among groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The main occluding area is more stable on the mandibular first molar than the maxilla in all groups.
authors.affiliation: a  Research Associate, Department of Orthodontics, School of Dental Medicine, Tsurumi University, Yokohama, Japan.
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kurokawa
authors.affiliation: b  Lecturer, Department of Orthodontics, School of Dental Medicine, Tsurumi University, Yokohama, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kanzaki
authors.affiliation: c  Clinical Professor, Department of Orthodontics, School of Dental Medicine, Tsurumi University, Yokohama, Japan.
authors.forename: Hajime
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tokiwa
authors.affiliation: d  Director, Handa Orthodontic Office, Yamato, Japan.
authors.forename: Hideho
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Handa
authors.affiliation: e  Lecturer, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dental Medicine, Tsurumi University, Yokohama, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazutoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakaoka
authors.affiliation: f  Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dental Medicine, Tsurumi University, Yokohama, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshiki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hamada
authors.affiliation: g  Director, Dental Clinic of Tokyo Securities Industry Health Insurance Society, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.affiliation: h  Professor, Department of Orthodontics, School of Dental Medicine, Tsurumi University, Yokohama, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshiki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakamura
mesh_terms: D003766:Dental Occlusion; D006801:Humans; D008313:Malocclusion, Angle Class III / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008334:Mandible / Q000601:surgery*; D008409:Mastication; D008437:Maxilla; D008963:Molar; D011378:Prognathism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery
keywords: Main occluding area; Mandibular prognathism; Mastication; Occlusion; Orthognathic surgery