Tooth contact during dynamic lateral excursion in young adults

Tooth contact in mediotrusion as well as the signs and symptoms of periodontal and mandibular dysfunction were recorded in healthy patients aged between 20 and 31 with Angle class I or II. Non-functional side contact (NFSC) was found in 94% of the patients, indicating that it is a common phenomenon. In cases of NFSC, the entire range of movement, and not only the final stage of tip-to-tip contact on the working side, should be recorded. Slight positive mobility with tooth faceting, as compared to the adjacent and contralateral teeth, was observed in 56 patients. There was no correlation between mediotrusion and mandibular dysfunction. The cumulative effects of NFSC are not well documented, and longitudinal follow-up studies should be carried out to clarify these.