Posterior Teeth Arrangement

Guidelines for arrangement of posterior teeth in ideal trial dentures

1. POSTERIOR TEETH
ARRANGEMENT
DR. AAMIR GODIL
DEPARTMENT OF PROSTHODONTICS
M.A.R.D.C.

2. Completed anterior teeth arrangement (right and left) –side view.

3. GUIDELINES

4. Guidelines for posterior teeth setting
Step 1:
Mark a line on the occlusal surface of the lower occlusal rim, corresponding to the lower residual ridge
and extend the line on the land area of the mandibular cast posterior to retromolar pad.
This line represents the central groove of the lower posterior teeth.
Line marked in the mandibular occlusion rim
corresponding to the residual alveolar ridge.

5. Guidelines for posterior teeth setting
Step 2:
Mark a line on the occlusal surface of the upper occlusal rim, line connecting the midpoint of lateral incisor
and the line on the land area posterior to the tuberosity which is exactly opposite to the line on the land area
posterior to the retromolar pad.
Line marked on the upper occlusal rim corresponding to the
palatal cusps of the upper posterior teeth.

6. Lower line extended posteriorly and transferred to the upper cast.

7. MAXILLARY FIRST PREMOLAR

8. Wax scooped out.

9. Maxillary premolar in relation to occlusal plane

10. Maxillary first premolar in relation to vertical axis –side view.

11. Maxillary first premolar in relation to vertical axis –front view.

12. Placement of the maxillary first premolar –palatal cusp relation.

13. When viewed from:
•Front: Long axis parallel towards the vertical axis.
•Side: Long axis parallel towards the vertical axis.
•Occlusal plane: Buccal cusp is in contact with occlusal plane and palatal cusp
1 mm short of occlusal plane.
Illustration of maxillary first premolar in all three planes.

14. MAXILLARY SECOND PREMOLAR

15. Scoop out the wax.

16. Maxillary second premolar in relation to occlusal plane.

17. Maxillary second premolar in relation to vertical axis –side view.

18. Maxillary second premolar in relation to vertical axis –front view.

19. Placement of the maxillary second premolar.

20. Illustration of maxillary second premolar in all three planes.
When viewed from:
•Front: Long axis parallel towards the vertical axis.
•Side: Long axis parallel towards the vertical axis.
•Occlusal plane: Both buccal cusp and palatal cusp is in contact with occlusal plane.

21. MAXILLARY FIRST MOLAR

22. Placement of maxillary molar.

23. Maxillary first molar –front view.

24. Placement of the maxillary firstmolar.

25. Illustration of maxillary first molar in all three planes.
When viewed from:
•Front: Long axis slopes buccally.
•Side: Long axis slopes distally.
•Occlusal plane: Only mesiopalatalcusp is in contact with occlusal plane.

26. MANDIBULAR FIRST PREMOLAR

27. Wax scooped out.

28. Placement of mandibular first premolar –occlusal view.

29. Mandibular first premolar –side view.

30. Mandibular first premolar –front view.

31. When viewed from:
•Front: Long axis parallel towards the vertical axis.
•Side: Long axis parallel towards the vertical axis.
•Occlusal plane: Lingual cusp below the horizontal plane, buccal cusp is 2 mm above the occlusal plane.
•Occlusal contact: Buccal cusp contacts the mesial marginal ridge of upper first premolar.
Illustration of mandibular first premolar in all three planes.

32. MANDIBULAR SECOND PREMOLAR

33. Mandibular second premolar –occlusal view.

34. Mandibular second premolar –side view.

35. Mandibular second premolar –front view.

36. Illustration of mandibular second premolar in all three planes.
When viewed from:
Front: Long axis parallel towards the vertical axis.
Side: Long axis parallel towards the vertical axis.
Occlusal plane: Both cusps are about 2 mm above the occlusal plane.
Occlusal contact: The buccal cusp contacting the fossa between the two upper premolars.

37. MANDIBULAR FIRST MOLAR

38. Scoop out the wax.

39. Mandibular first molar –occlusal view.

40. Mandibular first molar –side view.

41. Mandibular first molar –front view.

42. When viewed from:
•Front: Long axis lean lingually.
•Side: Long axis lean mesially.
•Occlusal plane: All cusps are at higher level than second premolar; buccal and distal cusps are higher than the
other two.
•Occlusal contact: The mesiobuccalcusp occludes in the fossa between upper second premolar and first molar.
Illustration of mandibular first molar in all three planes.

43. MAXILLARY SECOND MOLAR

44. Maxillary second molar –side view.

45. Maxillary second molar –front view.

46. Placement of the maxillary second molar.

47. When viewed from:
•Front: Long axis slopes buccally more steeply than first molar.
•Side: Long axis slopes distally more steeply than first molar.
•Occlusal plane: Only mesiopalatalcusp is nearest to occlusal plane.
Illustration of maxillary second molar in all three planes.

48. MANDIBULAR SECOND MOLAR

49. Mandibular second molar –occlusal view.

50. Mandibular second molar –side view.

51. Mandibular second molar –front view.

52. Illustration of mandibular second molar in all three planes.
When viewed from:
•Front: Long axis lean more lingually.
•Side: Long axis lean more mesially.
•Occlusal plane: All cusps are at higher level than first molar; buccal and distal cusps higher are than the other
two.
•Occlusal contact: The mesiobuccalcusp occludes in the fossa between the two upper molars.

53. COMPLETED TEETH ARRANGEMENT

54. Completed teeth arrangement –lingual, right and left side views.

55. KEY POINTS
POSTERIOR TEETH ARRANGEMENT

56. The lingual surfaces of mandibular
posterior denture teeth should occupy
an area bounded by two lines originating
from the mesial surface of the
mandibular canine and extending
posteriorly to the lingual and buccal
aspect of the retromolar pad. This area
has been called Pound’s triangle.
Pound’s Triangle

57. Curve of Spee Limit of mandibular posterior teeth

58. THANK YOU