National Dental Assisting Examining Board (NDAEB) Practice Exam

What is another name for Class II occlusion?

1. Mesioocclusion

2. Distoclusion

3. Neutroclusion

4. Angle Class I

The correct answer is: Distoclusion

Class II occlusion is commonly referred to as distoclusion. This term describes a specific relationship between the upper and lower teeth, where the lower first molar is positioned more towards the back of the mouth than the upper first molar. This occlusion indicates a malocclusion, which can affect the alignment and function of the teeth and jaw. The use of terms like mesioocclusion refers to Class III occlusion, where the lower molars are positioned more forward compared to the upper molars. Neutroclusion designates a normal occlusion or Class I occlusion, where the molar relationship is ideal. Angle Class I also describes a normal, ideal occlusion where the first molars interdigitate correctly. Thus, distoclusion is the correct term to represent Class II occlusion due to its specific definition related to the positional relationship of the teeth in malocclusion.