What is the clinical aim of balanced occlusion in denture wearers?

• A. To provide stable, even contacts on both sides during all functional movements, minimizing tipping.
• B. To maximize contacts on the working side.
• C. To eliminate all posterior contacts.
• D. To maintain the same contacts regardless of movement.

Answer: (C)

Balanced occlusion in dentures aims to create stable, bilateral contacts on both sides of the arch throughout all functional jaw movements. This bilateral stability helps resist dislodging forces and minimizes denture tipping during chewing, speaking, and other movements. If posterior contacts were eliminated or if only the working side were emphasized, the denture would become unstable and prone to tipping. Likewise, keeping the same contacts regardless of movement ignores the change in tooth contact that occurs with eccentric movements, reducing stability. So the best aim is to achieve stable, even bilateral contacts across centric and eccentric movements to maintain denture stability.