LATERAL AND PROTRUSIVE CONTACT SCHEMES AND OCCLUSAL WEAR - A CORRELATIONAL STUDY IN A YOUNG-ADULT SAUDI POPULATION

This study investigated the influence of occlusal contacts on the location and severity of occlusal wear during various mandibular movements. The study population consisted of 80 dental students with a mean age of 22 years, within the age range of 19 to 25 years. A dentition wear index-in addition to anterior, canine, and posterior subindexes-was derived from a tooth-by-tooth evaluation of casts. Lateral excursive and protrusive contact relationships were obtained by clinical examination. There was no correlation between the distribution of occlusal wear and the type of lateral excursive contact scheme. The location of contacts in protrusive movement demonstrated a distinct correlation with occlusal wear in overall severity and distribution according to segmental wear subindexes. The results indicate that the role of ''disclusive protection'' in the occurrence of occlusal wear may be questioned; the efficacy of ''mutual protection'' is similarly unsubstantiated, and the results lend further support to the concept of multifactorial etiology of occlusal tooth wear.