– vertical dimension of occlusion is the distance between the upper and lower jaws when the teeth are together in a normal bite. – It helps describe how “tall” the lower face looks when you close your teeth. – Dentists use it when planning restorations, dentures, bite adjustments, and full-mouth rehabilitation. – It is also discussed when tooth wear, missing teeth, or jaw problems change how the bite fits.
vertical dimension is the measured height between the upper and lower jaws when the teeth are together or when the jaw is at rest. It helps describe how “open” or “closed” the bite is in a repeatable, clinical way. It is commonly used in dentures, crowns, full-mouth rehabilitation, and bite adjustment planning. It is also used when evaluating tooth wear, missing teeth, and facial support.
centric occlusion is the tooth-contact position that occurs when the lower jaw closes with the jaw joints in their centered, repeatable position. It is a reference “bite position” used to describe how upper and lower teeth meet. Dentists use it in diagnosis, treatment planning, and when making restorations, crowns, bridges, dentures, and occlusal splints. It is often discussed alongside related terms like *centric relation* and *maximum intercuspation* (the tightest fit of the teeth).
centric relation is a repeatable jaw relationship used as a reference position in dentistry. It describes how the lower jaw (mandible) relates to the upper jaw (maxilla) at the jaw joints (TMJs). It is commonly used to record a “starting point” for diagnosing bite issues and planning restorations. It is also used to mount dental models and design prostheses when the bite is unstable or changing.
A jaw relation record is a clinical record of how the upper and lower jaws relate to each other when the teeth (or denture bases) meet. It helps a dental team transfer your “bite relationship” to a dental laboratory or an articulator (a mechanical jaw simulator). It is commonly used in dentures, crowns, bridges, implant restorations, and full-mouth rehabilitation planning. It may be made using waxes, elastomeric “bite registration” materials, or digital methods.
A wax rim is a shaped strip of dental wax built on a temporary denture base. It is commonly used during complete denture or partial denture planning visits. Clinicians adjust it in the mouth to help measure jaw relationships and tooth position. In simple terms, it is a customizable “practice bite” and facial support guide before final teeth are set.
An occlusion rim is a shaped rim of wax or resin built on a denture record base. It helps a dental team record how the upper and lower jaws relate to each other. It is most commonly used when making complete dentures or some implant-supported dentures. It acts as a temporary “stand-in” for teeth during key measurement and try-in steps.
A posterior palatal seal is a planned compression area at the back edge of an upper complete denture. It helps the denture “seal” against the soft tissues where the hard palate transitions to the soft palate. In plain terms, it’s a deliberately shaped zone that improves suction and stability for maxillary (upper) dentures. It is most commonly discussed in complete denture prosthodontics and denture fabrication.
A post dam is a denture feature placed at the back edge of an upper (maxillary) complete denture. It is commonly another name for the posterior palatal seal, a controlled seal against the soft tissue near the hard/soft palate junction. Its plain purpose is to help the denture “seal” against the palate to improve retention and reduce air or fluid leakage. It is planned during denture fabrication and may be refined during adjustments, relines, or repairs.
border molding is a clinical step used when making dental impressions for dentures and some removable appliances. It shapes the edges (“borders”) of an impression tray to match how the cheeks, lips, and tongue move. Its plain purpose is to capture the functional outline of the denture area so the final impression fits more accurately. It is most commonly used for complete dentures, implant overdentures, and certain removable partial dentures.