occlusal table

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Note added at 15 mins (2003-11-04 02:01:03 GMT)
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Occlusal stability plays an important role in jaw muscle physiology. The occlusal table is extensively innervated with delicate mechanical sensors that surround the roots of the teeth like a glove. These sensors can trigger a jaw opening reflex that rapidly silences the jaw elevator muscles in response to any pain or unexpected sensation. By keeping such a massive neurosensory system on guard and its protective reflexes facilitated, an irregular occlusal table can interfere with the quality and quantity of exercise experienced by the jaw muscles. Experimental studies have shown that the periodontal sensors must signal multiple contacts before the elevator muscles can fire strongly. In function, stable occlusions seem to evoke strong coordinated elevator muscle firings interspersed with brief periods of full relaxation while the depressors fire. In contrast, unstable occlusions are associated with weaker and more sustained elevator firings, larger overlap between elevator and depressor activity, and an increased elevator muscle tonus which may approach 5% of maximal voluntary force.(18 - 20)

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