occlusal
1
9.2
- adjective
- /əˈkluːzəl/
- Specialized
- A 1+ tongue is at the occlusal plane, a 2+ tongue is easily above the occlusal plane, and a 3+ tongue is massively filling the oral cavity.
- occlusal plane
Examples
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The tongue dorsum is measured on a three-point scale in relation to the occlusal plane.
Academic text (1999) -
A night guard is a hard plastic retainer worn on the upper that covers the occlusal surfaces of the teeth and protects them.
Blog text (22) -
Their positions were used to correct for head movements and rotation of the data to the occlusal plane.
Academic text (2011) -
Number two... occlusal.
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Modern human teeth are reported as having perikymata that are more widely spaced toward the occlusal surface, becoming more closely packed toward the cervix.
Blog text (26) -
If you follow the paleolithic occlusal records of Dr. Ungar, you will find that straight and worn down teeth were very normal on an ancestral diet.
Blog text (27) -
A 1+ tongue is at the occlusal plane, a 2+ tongue is easily above the occlusal plane, and a 3+ tongue is massively filling the oral cavity.
Academic text (1999) -
The dentist examined the occlusal surface of the tooth to check for any wear and damage.
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Braces can help align your teeth, improving their occlusal relationship when you bite.
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During the exam, the hygienist pointed out the importance of cleaning the occlusal surfaces to prevent cavities.
Antonyms
Surface Forms
Morphology
occlusal = occlusion (semi-transparent) = occlus + al
The adjective is built from the technical noun 'occlusion' plus '-al', but the stem shape changes and the dental sense is specialized.
Etymology
Occlusal comes from the Latin root occludere, which means 'to shut' or 'to close', and it shows the same idea as the English word close. So occlusal describes the tooth surfaces that close together when you bite or chew, which is why dentists use it for the chewing surfaces of teeth.