Which cusps are classified as functional cusps in posterior occlusion?

Which cusps are classified as functional cusps in posterior occlusion?

• A. Buccal cusps of the mandibular posterior teeth and the lingual cusps of the maxillary posterior teeth
• B. Buccal cusps of the maxillary posterior teeth and the lingual cusps of the mandibular posterior teeth
• C. Centric Contacts
• D. Curve of Spee

Answer: (A)

Functional cusps are the cusps that actually contact the opposing teeth during normal chewing and bear most of the occlusal load. In the posterior teeth, these are the buccal cusps of the mandibular posterior teeth and the lingual cusps of the maxillary posterior teeth. They engage in centric occlusion and guide efficient grinding, forming the primary functional contacts. The opposing cusps—buccal cusps of the maxillary posterior teeth and lingual cusps of the mandibular posterior teeth—tend to play a lesser role in centric occlusion and are considered nonfunctional or guiding/supporting cusps. Centric contacts refer to the contact points in centric occlusion rather than a cusp type, and the Curve of Spee is the curved occlusal plane, not a cusp classification.

Functional cusps are the cusps that actually contact the opposing teeth during normal chewing and bear most of the occlusal load. In the posterior teeth, these are the buccal cusps of the mandibular posterior teeth and the lingual cusps of the maxillary posterior teeth. They engage in centric occlusion and guide efficient grinding, forming the primary functional contacts. The opposing cusps—buccal cusps of the maxillary posterior teeth and lingual cusps of the mandibular posterior teeth—tend to play a lesser role in centric occlusion and are considered nonfunctional or guiding/supporting cusps. Centric contacts refer to the contact points in centric occlusion rather than a cusp type, and the Curve of Spee is the curved occlusal plane, not a cusp classification.