Which statement best describes the process by which teeth contact during closure?

• A. Occlusion
• B. Dental alignment
• C. Mastication
• D. Occlusal clearance

Answer: (A)

Occlusion is about how the upper and lower teeth meet when the jaws close. It describes the contact pattern they form—static contact in centric occlusion and how those contacts are maintained or distributed as the mouth moves—so it directly explains the process of teeth contacting during closure. Dental alignment focuses on how teeth are positioned in the arches, not on how they contact each other. Mastication is the chewing action that occurs after contact is established. Occlusal clearance refers to the space or allowances between opposing teeth, not the act of contact itself. So the best description is occlusion.