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 loca tion 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 d erived from a tooth-by-tooth evaluation of casts. Lateral excursive an d protrusive contact relationships were obtained by clinical examinati on. There was no correlation between the distribution of occlusal wear and the type of lateral excursive contact scheme. The location of con tacts in protrusive movement demonstrated a distinct correlation with occlusal wear in overall severity and distribution according to segmen tal wear subindexes. The results indicate that the role of ''disclusiv e protection'' in the occurrence of occlusal wear may be questioned; t he efficacy of ''mutual protection'' is similarly unsubstantiated, and the results lend further support to the concept of multifactorial eti ology of occlusal tooth wear.