| occlusal splints | Rigid or flexible appliances that overlay the occlusal surfaces of the teeth. They are used to treat clenching and bruxism and their sequelae, and to provide temporary relief from muscle or temporomandibular joint pain. (12 Dec 1998) |
|---|---|
| occlusal surface | The surface of a tooth that occludes with or contacts an opposing surface of a tooth in the opposing jaw. Synonym: denture occlusal surface. (05 Mar 2000) |
| occlusal system | The form or design and arrangement of the occlusal and incisal units of a dentition or the teeth on a denture. Synonym: occlusal scheme. (05 Mar 2000) |
| occlusal table | The occlusal or grinding surfaces of the bicuspid and molar teeth. (05 Mar 2000) |
| occlusal vertical dimension | The vertical dimension of the face when the teeth or occlusion rims are in contact in centric occlusion; decrease in occlusal vertical dimension may result from modification of tooth form by attrition or grinding, drifting of teeth, or, in edentulous patients, by resorption of residual ridges; increase may result from modifications of tooth form, tooth position, height of occlusion rims, rebasing or relining, or occlusal splints. (05 Mar 2000) |
| occlusal wear | Attritional loss of substance on opposing occlusal units or surfaces. See: abrasion. (05 Mar 2000) |
| occlusion | 1. The act of closure or state of being closed. 2. The relationship between all of the components of the masticatory system in normal function, dysfunction and parafunction. 3. Momentary complete closure of some area in the vocal tract, causing stoppage of the breath and accumulation of pressure. Origin: L. Occlusio (18 Nov 1997) |
| occlusion of pupil | The presence of an opaque membrane closing the pupillary area. (05 Mar 2000) |
| occlusion rim | Occluding surfaces built on temporary or permanent denture bases for the purpose of making maxillomandibular relation records and for arranging teeth. Synonym: bite rim, occlusal rim, record rim. (05 Mar 2000) |
| occlusive | Serving to close; denoting a bandage or dressing that closes a wound and excludes it from the air. (05 Mar 2000) |
| occlusive dressing | A dressing that hermetically seals a wound. (05 Mar 2000) |
| occlusive dressings | Material, usually gauze or absorbent cotton, used to cover and protect wounds, to seal them from contact with air or bacteria. (12 Dec 1998) |
| occlusive ileus | Complete mechanical blocking of the intestinal lumen. (05 Mar 2000) |
| occlusive meningitis | Leptomeningitis causing occlusion of the spinal fluid pathways. (05 Mar 2000) |
| occlusometer | <instrument> A device for measuring biting pressure. Synonym: bite gauge, occlusometer. Origin: Gnatho-+ dynamometer (05 Mar 2000) |