Occlusal-postural relationships: the mutual influence of dental arch anomalies and the musculoskeletal system. (Systematic review)

Relevance. The relationship between the stomatognathic system and postural control remains a controversial and widely discussed issue in modern dentistry and related fields. Despite a growing number of studies, evidence regarding the nature and clinical significance of the influence of malocclusion on the musculoskeletal system remains inconsistent. Aim — to systematically review and analyze current evidence on the relationship between malocclusion and postural control parameters and musculoskeletal biomechanics. Materials and methods. This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA Statement. A literature search was performed in PubMed and eLIBRARY.ru for studies published between 2016 and 2026 using the following keywords: malocclusion, dental occlusion, body posture, postural control, foot posture, plantar pressure, stomatognathic system. Clinical, observational, and experimental studies assessing the relationship between occlusion and postural parameters were included. A qualitative synthesis was performed. A total of 10 studies were included in the final analysis. Results and discussion. The included studies demonstrated substantial methodological heterogeneity. Observational studies reported weak to moderate associations between occlusal characteristics and postural parameters, including center of pressure displacement and plantar load asymmetry. However, several studies found no clinically significant correlations. Experimental studies showed that induced occlusal interferences may lead to short-term changes in postural control, suggesting adaptive mechanisms. Interventional studies indicated potential improvement in stabilometric parameters following occlusal correction. Overall, findings highlight the multifactorial nature of postural regulation and variability in the influence of the stomatognathic system. Conclusion. Current evidence suggests a relationship between malocclusion and postural control; however, its clinical significance remains unclear. The influence of occlusion appears to be variable and likely secondary. Further well-designed studies with standardized methodologies are required.