OBJECTIVETo study the effectiveness of sequential occlusal adjustment for kinetic food impaction.

METHODS36 patients who claiming food impaction with normal proximal contact were examined and analyzed about their occlusal relationship and configuration. Sequential occlusal adjustment was made to reduce pestle-mortar-like cusp, to create food escaping groove and to decrease mesial surface of the distal tooth cusp. One week, two weeks and six months later, the patients were reexamined and their oral conditions were evaluated.

RESULTSAn elimination of food impaction was claimed for 32 patients in one week appointment and all 36 patients in two-week appointment. Six months later, no patient reported food impaction.

CONCLUSIONThe use of sequential occlusal adjustment results in an effective elimination of some kind of kinetic food impaction.