A preliminary impression is an initial mold of the teeth, gums, and oral tissues. It creates a basic replica of the mouth that can be poured into a model (cast). It is commonly used early in treatment planning for dentures, crowns/bridges, orthodontics, and other dental appliances. It is usually less detailed than a final impression, but it is designed to be accurate enough for diagnosis and early fabrication steps.
A **final impression** is a detailed mold or digital record of teeth and gums used to create a precise dental restoration. It is commonly taken after any needed tooth shaping or tissue management is completed. Dentists use a final impression for indirect work like crowns, bridges, dentures, and some implant restorations. It aims to capture fine details (like margins and contact areas) so the lab or CAD/CAM system can make an accurate fit.
An impression is a negative mold or digital record of the teeth and surrounding oral tissues. Dentists use it to capture tooth shape, bite relationships, and gum contours for planning and fabrication. It is commonly used for crowns, bridges, dentures, clear aligners, mouthguards, and study models. An impression can be made with a soft setting material in a tray or with an intraoral scanner (digital impression).
selective grinding is a dental procedure that carefully reshapes small areas of tooth or restoration surface to improve how the upper and lower teeth meet. It is commonly used to adjust “high spots” (premature contacts) after fillings, crowns, bridges, or orthodontic changes. The goal is to create a more even, stable bite (occlusion) by removing minimal amounts of enamel or restorative material. It is also called occlusal adjustment or occlusal equilibration in some clinical contexts.
occlusal adjustment is a dental procedure that changes how the upper and lower teeth contact when you bite. It is done by carefully reshaping tooth or restoration surfaces, or sometimes by adding restorative material. The goal is to refine the “bite” (occlusion) so chewing forces are distributed more evenly. It is commonly used after fillings, crowns, bridges, dentures, and other dental treatments that can alter bite contacts.
mutually protected occlusion is an occlusal scheme (a planned way upper and lower teeth contact) used in many natural dentitions and restorative cases. In this concept, back teeth primarily support vertical biting forces, while front teeth help guide the jaw during side-to-side and forward movements. The “mutual protection” idea is that different tooth groups reduce stress on each other depending on how the jaw is moving. It is commonly discussed in restorative dentistry, prosthodontics, and occlusion teaching when planning crowns, veneers, composites, or full-mouth rehabilitation.
group function is an occlusal scheme (a way teeth contact during jaw movement). It describes multiple teeth on the working side touching together during side-to-side (lateral) movement. It is commonly discussed in restorative dentistry, prosthodontics, and occlusion when planning bite contacts. It is often compared with canine guidance, where the canine tooth carries most of the lateral contact.
canine guidance is an occlusal pattern where the canine teeth guide the jaw during side-to-side movement. In simple terms, the canines “take the load” when you slide your lower jaw left or right. This guidance can help reduce rubbing contact on back teeth during lateral movement. It is commonly discussed in bite analysis, restorative dentistry, prosthodontics, and occlusion (how teeth meet).
lingualized occlusion is an arrangement of denture teeth where the upper back teeth contact mainly on their tongue-side (lingual) cusps. It is designed to keep chewing forces more centered over the lower denture and supporting ridge. It is most commonly discussed in complete dentures and implant overdentures. It can also be used as a teaching-friendly compromise between fully anatomic and very flat occlusal schemes.
bilateral balanced occlusion is an occlusal scheme where the upper and lower teeth contact on both the left and right sides at the same time. It aims for simultaneous contacts in the “center” bite position and during side-to-side or forward movements. It is most commonly discussed in complete denture and removable prosthodontic treatment. In simple terms, it is designed to keep dentures from tipping when you chew or move your jaw.