The holistic approach
Understanding, or being able to explain, the importance of ideal occlusion is only possible by adopting biofunctional and holistic approaches as core principles. The holistic approach holds that a person must be considered as a whole in diagnosis and treatment: the true source of a symptom in one part of the body may lie in a different region, related to another medical specialty.
Consider a person who constantly overpronates. Over time, the unbalanced distribution of forces can lead to back pain or knee problems. A physician may focus only on the knee or the back, and that treatment may be necessary. But with a holistic approach, the factor causing the overpronation is identified, and once the imbalance is removed, the complaint may subside on its own or be prevented from recurring.
The foundations of biofunctional occlusion
Dentists who have adopted this perspective accept that occlusion is one of the body's balancing organs, a complex mechanism connected to every part of the body. The concept of biofunctional occlusion rests on correctly identifying every factor in the masticatory system and evaluating the whole mechanism, together with the surrounding tissues, as a single unit. It must be based on:
- The ideal position of the joints, muscles, teeth and the posture of the whole body
- A stable orthopedic position of the temporomandibular joint (jaw joint)
- Correctly determined occlusion and natural, unworn ideal tooth forms
What should we understand by aesthetics?
Although it is not the primary goal, a healthy and functional masticatory system naturally produces an aesthetic appearance. This perspective sets the biofunctional approach apart from purely cosmetic treatments, because aesthetics and function, form and function, cannot be separated.
If aesthetic treatment is carried out while function is ignored, the great mistake is made of treating aesthetics as mere "decoration". The ideal masticatory system depends on an ideal occlusion in the position where wear and deformation of the muscles, teeth, TMJ and skeletal system are minimized.
Adaptation and its limits
A disturbed occlusion can manifest itself through many symptoms that reduce quality of life; people adapt to these disorders to a surprising degree. But this capacity to adapt has limits that vary from person to person.
The scientific literature is full of conflicting interpretations on this subject. The complex nature of the human body, which we still cannot fully explain today, can only gain more meaning through interdisciplinary, holistic approaches free of dogma.