HESI General Chairside Assisting Practice Exam

What material is used to check for centric occlusion?

1. Teeth impression material

2. Articulating paper

3. Wax bite registration

4. Dental cement

The correct answer is: Articulating paper

Articulating paper is specifically designed to help check and record occlusion in dental practices. When a patient bites down, the paper leaves marks that indicate the pressure points where the teeth touch, allowing the clinician to visualize the occlusal relationship. This is crucial for ensuring that the dental work fits properly and that there are no interfering contacts that could lead to discomfort or uneven wear. In contrast, while teeth impression material and wax bite registration can be used in the context of occlusion, they serve different primary purposes. Teeth impression material is primarily used to create accurate models of a patient’s teeth and surrounding oral structures, and wax bite registration captures the occlusal relationship but may not provide as immediate feedback as articulating paper does. Dental cement does not serve the purpose of checking occlusion; rather, it is used to bond restorations such as crowns, bridges, or fillings to the teeth. The effectiveness of articulating paper in providing instant visual feedback makes it the preferred choice for checking centric occlusion.