Introduction (Abstract)

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Introduction (Abstract)

Masticationpedia

Article by: Gianni Frisardi

Introduction (Abstract)

Rethinking Mastication: from “occlusion” to a neurofunctional paradigm

Mastication is not a mechanical consequence of teeth and joints. It is a neuro-regulated behavior, shaped by proprioception, reflex circuits, cortical modulation, and adaptive plasticity. Masticationpedia starts from one clinical paradox that classical biomechanics struggles to explain: functional symmetry can persist even in the presence of evident morphological asymmetry.

In Kuhnian terms, this is where anomalies accumulate: the old model still “works” in many cases, but it fails to account for what we repeatedly observe in real patients. Our proposal is not to discard dentistry’s classical frameworks, but to extend them: morphology becomes one dimension of a larger functional system, where the trigeminal network plays a central role.

Why this chapter matters

This chapter introduces the core intuition that will guide the whole Book:

• not every malocclusion is dysfunction
• not every “ideal occlusion” guarantees well-being
• diagnosis must integrate morphology, function, and neurophysiological response
• treatment should respect (and measure) neuroadaptive balance, not only “shape”

A paradigmatic example

Below: symmetry of masseter response under bilateral transcranial stimulation — a strong signal that the system can preserve balance even when morphology is clearly imperfect.

Figure: Bilateral transcranial stimulation showing functional symmetry of the masseters despite occlusal anomalies.

Keywords

Neuro-gnathology · trigeminal system · neuroplasticity · complexity science · occlusal dysmorphism · paradigm shift

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