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Walk the Even Hospital Database by book and chapter — the raw source passages that ground Ask, DDx, and the rest.
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The mandible, which holds the lower teeth, comprises the majority of the lower third of the maxillofacial skeleton and is of utmost functional importance. Complex mandibular movements are afforded by the masseter, temporalis, medial pterygoid, lateral pterygoid muscles, and temporomandibular joints.[1] Given that the maxilla is stationary, mastication is dependent on mandibular movement. In certain populations, masticatory function related to dental status is a significant determinant of nutritional status. Being an edentulous geriatric patient without complete dentures was shown to be an independent risk factor for malnutrition.[2] This suggests the importance of functional occlusion. Occlusion is the articulation between the mandibular and maxillary dental arch. Static and dynamic occlusal relationships can be described in many ways.[3][4] Understanding the occlusal contact relationship impacts the providers' ability to design and place dental implants, implement orthodontic braces, fit dentures, re-establish masticatory function, and restore a patient’s native bite after maxillofacial trauma.