American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) Practice Exam 2025 – All-in-One Resource to Master Your Orthodontics Certification!

In patients with Class I occlusion, the predominant characteristic is balanced occlusion. Class I occlusion, as defined in orthodontics, indicates a proper relationship between the maxillary and mandibular molars, typically with the mesiobuccal cusp of the maxillary first molar interdigitating with the buccal groove of the mandibular first molar. Balanced occlusion means that there is equal contact between the upper and lower teeth during centric occlusion, allowing both sets of teeth to work together efficiently.

This occlusal scheme is crucial for maintaining dental and periodontal health, as it provides stability during various functional movements such as chewing. Balanced occlusion also helps distribute occlusal forces evenly across the dental arch, reducing the risk of localized stress on individual teeth and supporting structures.

In contrast, canine protected occlusion emphasizes the role of canines in guiding the occlusion during lateral movements, whereas group function involves multiple teeth on one side coming into contact during the same lateral movement. Unilateral occlusion refers to an occlusal relationship where only one side is in contact, which is not typical in a Class I occlusion. Thus, the characterization of Class I patients as typically exhibiting balanced occlusion is key to understanding their occlus