Question

at the wax try-in, the maxillary plane appears to be correct, yet when the patient closes lightly in centric relation, the mandibular teeth appear to show too much. the patient's lips do not contact unless the patient forces them to do so. the error that has most likely occurred is

Answer 1

The error that has most likely occurred is an incorrect vertical dimension of occlusion (VDO). The wax try-in needs to be adjusted to achieve the correct VDO.

Step-by-step explanation:

The error that has most likely occurred in this situation is an incorrect vertical dimension of occlusion (VDO). VDO refers to the distance between the maxillary and mandibular teeth when the jaws are in a relaxed, slightly open position. If the mandibular teeth appear to show too much when the patient closes lightly in centric relation, it suggests that the wax try-in has been set with an incorrect VDO.

In this case, the patient's lips not contacting unless forced indicates that the VDO is too high. This can lead to issues with the function and aesthetics of the final restoration. To correct the error, the wax try-in needs to be adjusted to achieve the correct VDO, ensuring that the mandibular teeth show an appropriate amount when the patient closes lightly in centric relation.