The main occluding area in patients with fixed partial dentures.

It has become clear that food crushing is performed in the circumscribed region between functional cusps, that is, at "the main occluding area". However, the position of the main occluding area in patients with fixed partial dentures (FPDs) has not been investigated quantitatively yet. There is a possibility that the load onto the abutment teeth of FPDs is loaded excessively depending on the position of the main occluding area at the early stage of mastication.