Trauma from Occlusion

Trauma from occlusion is defined as an injury that occurs in the periodontium as the accepted occlusal pressure has exceeded the capacity of its adaptive capacity.1,2 Trauma from occlusion is classified as primary and secondary, where primary occlusion trauma arises from abnormal occlusal forces acting on a fairly good periodontal system, while secondary occlusion trauma results from physiologic or unhealthy occlusal forces acting on a dentition that is severely compromised by the loss of supporting alveolar bone. These forces can be well adapted by the tooth-supporting soft tissues when they are within a normal range, but extreme occlusal forces can cause pathological changes in the soft tissues. The magnitude, direction, length, and frequency of such forces are commonly used to describe them.