Seminar on

Curves of Occlusion

Dr. Riad Mahmud

MSR Phase-B
Prosthodontic Department
BSMMU
Moderator
Dr. Md. Amzad Hossain
BDS, MS, FCPS
Associate Professor
Dept. of Prosthodontics
BSMMU
Chairperson
Dr. Md. Mahbubur Rahman
BDS (Dhaka), DDS, PhD.

Associate Professor and Head,

Dept. of Prosthodontics,
BSMMU
 Curves of occlusion
• Curve of Spee
• Curve of Wilson
• Sphere of Monson
 Compensating curvature of the dental
arch
(curved occlusal planes)

These are the curved plane to which the artificial teeth

are arranged in complete denture.

They provide balance in all mandibular movement.

 The curve of Spee

Spee stated that when the

upper and lower jaws are
examined from a point
opposite the first molar
buccally the incisal edges of
anterior teeth and the buccal
cusps of posterior teeth
follow a curve that end at the 110-120
anterior surface of the
condyle.
The curve of Spee is in sagittal plane.
 Curve of Spee:
*Curve of the mandibular arch is concave from
the level of occlusion.
*Curve of the maxillary arch is convex.

Curve of Spee allows for the

normal functional protrusive
movement of the mandible.
Curve of Wilson

In coronal Plane
(posterior transverse view)
 Curve of Wilson
• Crowns of the upper posterior
teeth are inclined buccally so
lingual cusps appear longer than
buccal cusps.
• Crowns of the lower posterior
teeth are inclined lingually so
buccal cusps appear longer than
lingual cusps.
• If a line is drawn from the buccal
cusps of a posterior tooth on one
side to a buccal cusp of the same
tooth on the other side of the
same arch, it will follow a curve
parallel to the coronal plane. This
is the curve of Wilson.
Curve of Wilson

• The curve formed by an

imaginary line touching the
buccal and lingual cusp tips of
similar teeth on each side of the
mandibular arch.
• The inclination of the posterior
teeth increase in backward
direction so the curve of wilson
is more curved in backward
direction
• Typically, viewed in the frontal
plane (However, to improve
visibility, this image is viewed
from the posterior)
 Curve of Wilson
• Convex in maxillary arch &
concave in mandibular arch

• Change from first molar to third

molar and with wear of the
dentition.
• Allows for those exquisite
movements which are used in
chewing functions.

• The elevated buccal cusps

prevent food from going past the
occlusion table
 What is the difference between the curve of Spee and the curve of Wilson?

The buccal cusp tips of posterior The curve of Wilson is a

teeth , seen in alignment from a
lateral view , conform to the curve
of Spee in an anterior to posterior
direction.
4” radius
transverse occlusal curve which
exists for posterior teeth in a
direction from right to left as
seen from a posterior view.

Curve of Spee: Buccal - Lingual Curvature.

Anteroposterior curvature For mastication. the Curve of Wilson.
of the incisal &occlusal Clinically, it relates to the anterior overbite:
surfaces the deeper the curve, the deeper the overbite.
Curve of Monson: Curve of Monson is the curve of occlusion
in which each tooth cusp and incisal edge touches or conform
to a segment of a surface of a sphere 8 inches (20 cm) in
diameter, with its center in the region of the glabella.
Curve of Monson
• When teeth are properly aligned in the
dental arches, their incisal and occlusal
surfaces adapt themselves to curved
planes.
• The occlusal surfaces of the mandibular
teeth form a concave plane .Those of
maxillary teeth form a convex plane .In
centric occlusion these planes become
identical.
Monson stated that the curved occlusal surfaces of the
dental arches conform to a segment of a sphere of 4 inches
radius. The center of this sphere is in the glabella.
Curve of Monson is a combination of curve of Spee and
curve of Wilson.
The importance of these curved planes is to assist the path
of condyles of the mandible in its movement.
 Sphere of Monson
It is a combination of Spee and Wilson curves , these curves are
studies in a three dimension occlusal model the cusps tips of posterior
teeth resting on a sphere. Sphere of Monson :sphere existed with a
radius of 4 inches

glabella

Center of Monson’s
Sphere
( located in the
gabella
above the