The masticatory pattern as an adjunct for diagnosis and treatment.
The sagitally-viewed masticatory pattern was investigated in 125 dentate patients. In 25 patients, the phenomenon of an incisal guided phase during mastication was observed. Clinical examination of these cases revealed slight to severe incisal attrition or various degrees of flaring. The hypothesis that the incisal guided phase contributes to this phenomenon and should therefore be taken into consideration during treatment is put forward.