OROFACIAL
COMPLEX: FORM &
FUNCTION
FORM AND FUNCTION
The phrase form and function reflects a concept of interrelation
of the shape or attributes of something with its function
In dentistry the phrase may indicate the entire masticatory
system, acting as a biomechanical engine for the reduction of
food.
It may be possible to try to make a case that each of the
components of the masticatory system has some kind of
physiological relationship to its individual functions and to that
of the whole system, including its maintenance
Beyond assumptions to the morphology of the teeth, the relationships
of tooth form to the form of the supporting structures, including the
gingiva, must be considered in terms of clinical significance
In order to understand the form and function of teeth, the following
aspects must be considered
➢Proximal contact areas
➢Interproximal spaces (formed by proximal surface in contact)
➢Embrasures (spillways)
➢Labial and buccal contours at the cervical thirds (cervical ridges) and
lingual contours at the middle thirds of crowns .
➢Curvatures of the cervical lines on mesial and distal surfaces
(cementoenamel junction [CEJ]
PROXIMAL CONTACT AREAS
Soon after the alignment of all of the teeth in their respective
positions in the jaws takes place, a positive contact relation of
one tooth with another in each arch should be established
mesially and distally
Except for the last molars (third molars, if present), each tooth
has two contacting members adjoining it.
The last molar is in contact only with the tooth mesial to it
Contact areas must be observed from two aspects to obtain the
proper perspective for locating them:
the labial or buccal aspect,
the incisal or occlusal aspect
The labial or buccal view will demonstrate the relative positions
of the contact areas cervicoincisally or cervicoocclusally.
The incisal or occlusal view will show the relative position of the
contact areas labiolingually or buccolingually
IMPORTANCE
Proper contact prevents food impaction
Combined anchorage of all the teeth --- occlusal stability
Masticatory forces are well distributed
Tight contact between adjacent teeth helps to protect the
interproximal gingival tissue by diverting /shunting food toward
the buccal and lingual areas.
CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
If, food is forced between the teeth past the contact areas, the
result may be pathological.
The gingival tissue, which normally fills the interdental spaces,
may become inflamed (gingivitis) and ultimately involve deeper
periodontal structures with loss of bone and attachment
(periodontitis).
Excessive occlusal forces on an individual tooth may occur when
normal forces are no longer distributed over several teeth, as may
happen when teeth are lost or when normal forces become
excessive with loss of supporting structures as a result of
periodontal diseases.
INTERPROXIMAL SPACES (FORMED
BY PROXIMAL SURFACES IN
CONTACT)
The interproximal spaces between
the teeth are triangularly shaped
spaces normally filled by gingival
tissue (gingival papillae).
The base of the triangle is the
alveolar process, the sides of the
triangle are the proximal surfaces of
the contacting teeth, and the apex of
the triangle is in the area of contact
The form of the interproximal space
will vary with the form of the teeth
in contact and will depend also on
the relative position of the contact
areas
Proper contact and alignment of adjoining teeth allows proper
spacing between them for the normal bulk of gingival tissue
attached to the bone and teeth.
This gingival tissue is a continuation of the gingiva covering all
of the alveolar process.
The surface keratinization of the gingiva and the density and
elasticity of the gingival tissues help maintain these tissues
against trauma during mastication and invasion by bacteria.
Because the teeth are narrower at the cervix mesiodistally than they
are toward the occlusal surfaces and the outline of the root continues
to taper from that point to the apices of the roots, considerable
spacing is created between the roots of one tooth and the roots of
adjoining teeth.
This arrangement allows sufficient bone tissue between one tooth and
another, which anchors the teeth securely in the jaws.
Interproximal space depends on the type of tooth .
Some individuals have teeth that are wide at the cervices,
constricting the space at the base.
Others have teeth that are more slender at the cervices than
usual; this type of tooth widens the space.
EMBRASURES (SPILLWAYS)
When two teeth in the same arch are in contact, their curvatures
adjacent to the contact areas form V shaped or spillway spaces called
embrasures
Narrowest part of V – at the contact area -- -- From here the space
widens facially - to form Labial embrasure, lingually to form – lingual
embrasure & occlusally to form – incisal/ occlusal embrasure
4 th triangular space – cervical to the contact area– filled by interdental/
gingival papillae -- called as interproximal space – Gingival / cervical
embrasure
FUNCTION
It provides a spillway for food during mastication,
reduces the forces brought to bear on the teeth during the
reduction of any material that offers resistance; and
It prevents food from being forced through the contact area.
Make tooth self cleansing as the rounded smooth surfaces of
crown are exposed to the cleaning action of fibrous foods and
friction of cheek and lips.
Embrasures and contact areas protect the gingiva from undue
trauma
CHARACTERISTICS OF IDEAL
EMBRASSURES
The embrassure should be
symmetrical, thus the proximal
surfaces of adjacent teeth
should be mirror images of
each other
Adjacent marginal ridges and
CEJ should of same height
Teeth should have tight
proximal areas
FACIAL AND LINGUAL PHYSIOLOGICAL
CONTOURS OF TEETH
All tooth crowns, when viewed from mesial or distal aspects, the
facial & lingual surfaces show some bulge above the cervical
line.
Crests of curvature -- at the cervical thirds and at the middle
thirds labially or buccally or lingually, depending on the teeth
being examined
The buccal and lingual contours can deflect food material away
from the gingival margins during mastication----------
Undercontoured surfaces can lead to food impaction
Anterior teeth
Crest of curvature/heights of contours
labially and lingually are in cervical
third of the crown
➢Crest of curvature are at same level and
are opposite to each other
labiolingually
➢Curvatures extend upto 0.5mm beyond
the cervical line
➢Lingually crest of curvature is on
cingulum
Maxillary posterior teeth
➢Buccal & Lingual Curvatures extend upto 0.5mm beyond the
cervical line
➢crest of curvature buccally is at cervical third
➢crest of curvature Lingually is at middle third
Mandibular posterior teeth
➢Buccal Curvatures extend about 0.5mm from the cervical line
➢Lingual Curvatures extend about 1mm from the cervical line
➢crest of curvature buccally is at cervical third
➢crest of curvature Lingually is at middle third
CURVATURES OF THE CERVICAL L INES
(CEMENTOENAMEL JUNCTION [CEJ] ) MESIALLY
AND DISTALLY
The epithelial attachment seals the soft tissue to the tooth.
Normal attachment & contours of alveolar crest -- follows the
curvature of the CEJ if the teeth are in normal alignment and
contact.
Extent of cervical line – greater mesially than distally in all the
teeth
The curvature of the cervical line of most teeth (CEJ) is
approximately 1 mm less distally than mesially
Extent of cervical line dictates the level of contact areas
The cervical line curvature – greater in incisors & tends to
decrease towards molars.
Anteriors – exhibit greater curvature than posteriors
IMAGINARY OCCLUSAL OF PLANES
& CURVES
Curve of Spee - curvature of the mandibular occlusal plane
beginning at the tip of the lower incisors and following the
buccal cusps of the posterior teeth, continuing to the
terminal molar.
Curve of Wilson - upward (U-shaped) curvature of the maxillary
and mandibular occlusal planes in the coronal plane.
GEOMETRIC CROWN OUTLINES OF
TEETH
Triangular outline
- all maxillary & mandibular anterior teeth
Mesial & Distal aspect
Trapezoid outline
✓ Trapezoid with longest uneven side towards incisal/occlusal
surface
--facial & lingual aspects of all teeth
✓ Trapezoid with shortest uneven side towards incisal/occlusal
surface
--proximal aspects of all maxillary posterior teeth
Rhomboidal outline
- proximal aspects of all mandibular posterior teeth