What term describes the areas of occlusal contact with the opposing teeth in centric occlusion?

• A. Centric Contacts
• B. Working Side
• C. Non-working Side
• D. Curve of Spee

Answer: (A)

In centric occlusion, the jaw is in its maximum intercuspation, so the teeth that actually touch in that stable position are called centric contacts. This term specifically refers to the occlusal contact areas that exist when the upper and lower teeth come together in centric occlusion, not during any movement. It reflects the static, habitual contact pattern that distributes bite forces evenly across the posterior teeth.

Working-side and non-working-side refer to contacts that occur during lateral jaw movements: the working side is the side toward which you move, and the non-working side is the opposite side. These are distinct from centric contacts, which are present in the static centric position. The Curve of Spee is the anteroposterior curvature of the occlusal surfaces, an anatomical concept rather than a term for contact areas in centric occlusion. So the term that describes these contact areas in centric occlusion is centric contacts.