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Orthodontics & OcclusionIntermediate

Canine guidance and group function

In canine guidance, when you move your lower jaw to one side, only the canines touch and the back teeth separate.
A real human mandible. In side-to-side movements, it's the teeth that guide its path: in canine guidance, the canines.
A real human mandible. In side-to-side movements, it's the teeth that guide its path: in canine guidance, the canines.Photo: Gregory F. Maxwell · GFDL 1.2, Wikimedia Commons

What you need to know

  • D'Amico described how the upper canines guide the mandible in side-to-side movements.
  • Group function: on the side the mandible moves toward, the canine and the back teeth touch at the same time.
  • Mutually protected occlusion: the front teeth protect the back teeth during movements, and the back teeth protect the front teeth when the mouth closes.
  • Working side: the side the mandible moves toward. Non-working side (or balancing side): the opposite one.
  • The upper canine has a long, strong root: in a CT study it measured about 17 mm on average.
  • Studies don't show a clear winner between canine guidance and group function.

Terms in plain words

Lateral movementMoving the mandible to one side.
DisocclusionWhen the back teeth stop touching during a movement.

For the exam

When the mandible moves to the right, the canine, premolars and molars on the right side touch. Which scheme is it?

Show answerHide answer

Group function.

Sources

  1. Tiwari B, et al. Occlusal Concepts in Full Mouth Rehabilitation: An Overview. J Indian Prosthodont Soc. 2014;14(4):344–351. View source
  2. Nelson SJ. Wheeler's Dental Anatomy, Physiology and Occlusion. 11th ed. Elsevier (textbook).
  3. Root Canal Morphology of Permanent Maxillary and Mandibular Canines in Indian Population Using Cone Beam Computed Tomography. View source
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