[The neuromuscular effect of anterior guidance on the protrusive movement pattern of the mandible. Observations in the horizontal plane].
The influence of a temporarily altered anterior guidance on mandibular movement patterns of tooth-guided and non-guided protrusion was examined in a clinical study on 20 patients, all with complete sets of teeth. Registration and recordings of movements were done with the computer-aided ultrasonic measuring system MT 1602. Based on an average measuring time of 40 min for each patient the main results were as follows: 1. The shape of the anterior guidance strongly influences the horizontal tracings of tooth-guided and non-guided protrusion. In most cases these tracings show a deviation from the mid-sagittal path due to neuromuscular coordination. 2. Insertion of an idealized, symmetrical anterior guidance or a horizontal plateau lessens the mandibular deviation and harmonizes the tooth-guided and non-guided paths. However, the old neuromuscular engrams are not completely erased. 3. Newly formed engrams can be erased much easier than old ones.