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Difference between revisions of "Introduction/Landing/Malocclusion Rethought"

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== Malocclusion Rethought ==
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From "bad bite" to a broader paradigm: Occlusal Dysmorphisms
  <h1 style="margin:.2rem 0; font-size:2.2rem; line-height:1.2;">Malocclusion Rethought</h1>
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    From “bad bite” to a broader paradigm: <b>Occlusal Dysmorphisms</b>.
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    <span class="colour-button">[https://www.masticationpedia.org/index.php/Introduction#Dental_Malocclusion 👉 Read the full chapter (Dental Malocclusion)]</span>
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'''In brief:''' many so-called "malocclusions" show functional symmetry at neurophysiological tests (MEP, jaw-jerk).
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Purely occlusal targets risk ''relapse'' if neuromuscular factors are ignored.
== Malocclusion Rethought ==
An interdisciplinary model improves long-term stability.
"Malocclusion" (from Latin <i>malum</i> = bad) traditionally labels an improper “closure” of teeth. Yet modern clinical science shows that function cannot be reduced to mechanics alone. Electrophysiological findings (e.g., symmetry in motor-evoked potentials, jaw-jerk, and silent period) often reveal balanced trigeminal dynamics even in the presence of occlusal discrepancies.  


=== Why this matters ===
This challenges the conventional label “malocclusion” and supports a broader concept: <b>Occlusal Dysmorphisms</b>. Within a complex-systems view of mastication, neuromuscular coherence can coexist with occlusal asymmetries, urging interdisciplinary diagnostics that integrate occlusion with neurophysiology to achieve stable outcomes and reduce relapses.
* Electrophysiology can reveal balanced trigeminal dynamics even with occlusal issues.
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* A mechanistic-only view may miss neural drivers of orofacial dysfunction. 
* Integrating occlusion + neurophysiology reduces relapses and improves outcomes.


=== What you’ll learn ===
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* How complexity science reframes occlusal stability.
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* Why “malocclusion” is often an insufficient label.
File:Occlusal Centric view in open and cross bite patient.jpg|'''Fig. 1a:''' Open bite and crossbite case (occlusal view).
* The clinical role of Occlusal Dysmorphisms in rehabilitation.
File:Bilateral Electric Transcranial Stimulation.jpg|'''Fig. 1b:''' Bilateral MEP symmetry in masseter muscles.
File:Jaw Jerk .jpg|'''Fig. 1c:''' Jaw-jerk reflex indicating functional symmetry.
File:Mechanic Silent Period.jpg|'''Fig. 1d:''' Mechanical silent period (balanced neuromuscular dynamics).
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=== Evidence & further reading ===
<h3>📑 References</h3>
* [https://www.masticationpedia.org/wiki/Dental_Malocclusion Dental Malocclusion (classical view)]
* [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31175796/ Interdisciplinary diagnostics of malocclusions — Smaglyuk et al., 2019]
* [https://www.masticationpedia.org/wiki/Philosophy_and_paradigm_shifts Epistemology and paradigm shifts (Kuhn)]
* [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23949448/ Anterior open bite review — Reichert et al., 2014]
* [https://www.masticationpedia.org/wiki/Complex_systems Complex systems and emergent behavior]
* [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5962250/ Early crossbite protocols — Miamoto et al., 2018]
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'''→ [[Introduction|Read the full chapter]]'''
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  <span class="colour-button" style="background:#ccc; color:#333; border:none; opacity:.95;">
    [https://www.masticationpedia.org/index.php/Introduction#Dental_Malocclusion Explore the full section in the Introduction →]
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  Masticationpedia — open scientific platform for dentistry and medicine.
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Revision as of 09:21, 19 September 2025


Malocclusion Rethought

From “bad bite” to a broader paradigm: Occlusal Dysmorphisms.

Malocclusion Rethought

"Malocclusion" (from Latin malum = bad) traditionally labels an improper “closure” of teeth. Yet modern clinical science shows that function cannot be reduced to mechanics alone. Electrophysiological findings (e.g., symmetry in motor-evoked potentials, jaw-jerk, and silent period) often reveal balanced trigeminal dynamics even in the presence of occlusal discrepancies.

This challenges the conventional label “malocclusion” and supports a broader concept: Occlusal Dysmorphisms. Within a complex-systems view of mastication, neuromuscular coherence can coexist with occlusal asymmetries, urging interdisciplinary diagnostics that integrate occlusion with neurophysiology to achieve stable outcomes and reduce relapses.

  • Fig. 1a: Open bite and crossbite case (occlusal view).

  • Fig. 1b: Bilateral MEP symmetry in masseter muscles.

  • Fig. 1c: Jaw-jerk reflex indicating functional symmetry.

  • Fig. 1d: Mechanical silent period (balanced neuromuscular dynamics).

📑 References

 Masticationpedia — open scientific platform for dentistry and medicine.
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