What you call “Individual normal occlusion” perhaps can also be considered “habitual occlusion” or adapted occlusion or accommodated occlusion. But technology allows one to see the hidden unseen factors via physiologic measurements to see the problem before it becomes a further problem…Like EKG of heart muscles…one may not “feel” a cardiac problem right way, or observe whether the persons heart is function properly unless one begins to quantify and measure the heart muscles with EKG…it goes beyond dependence of a stethescope. So it is with occlusal problems and or muscle related masticatory problems…the dentist will not fully understand occlusion and TMD issues until they begin to use the available tools and technologies to properly diagnose and interpret the data correctly to head off problems that now become bigger clinical issues that could have been avoided. But as you indicated the dental profession is happy with the simplicity of not paying attention to the underlying factors, and rather wait for the big problems to arise in obvious manners (which could have been preventable) but sometimes ignorance is bliss. It is like sticking one’s head in the sand….lol and saying I don’t see, feel or hear occlusal problems until it is too late.– Clayton A. Chan, D.D.S. – Las Vegas, NV
