Changes in Head Position Due to Occlusal Supporting Zone Loss During Clenching

Abstract:

To establish the relationship between the condition of the stomatognathic system and body posture, changes in the head position during clenching were observed and investigated when the occlusal supporting zone was lost unilaterally and bilaterally. The results were as follows: 1. Regardless of the occlusal conditions, the head position was changed by clenching; 2. The occlusal conditions did not affect the changed distance of the head position; 3.The head position was changed forward and down by clenching regardless of the condition of the occlusal supporting zone. The head position changed more laterally to the opposite side of the lost occlusal supporting zone by clenching with the occlusal supporting zone lost unilaterally rather than bilaterally. Based on this study, it is suggested that unilateral loss of the occlusal supporting zone may cause the neck muscles to become inharmonious and thus affect body posture.