maximum intercuspation

There are some words that have never been said on this site, such as "rapscallion." I just helped rectify that somewhat.

Have you ever wondered what your teeth are doing when you bite down? Of course you have - we all have. Basically, only half of each tooth is really doing (touching/occluding) anything; the other half either sticks out facially or sticks in lingually. But who can say what does what? That's why I've provided this very crude, but very handy, diagram. It shows your upper (maxillary) back teeth (the two premolars and first two molars) and the lower (mandibular) back teeth, and where each functional cusp sits when you close your mouth and shut up about Rihanna's abusive boyfriend.

Just start with the green cusp, which is the functional one, and follow the black line to see where it rests on the tooth of the opposing arch (the blue circle). Cusps will sit on one of three places: the mesial or distal marginal ridge, or the central fossa. This helps give stability to your teeth and assures that you can eat your pickled pig's feet safely.